The New York herald., 1921-04-24

Special cable to THE NEw YoRK EEaALp.
Copyright. 1891, by THE NEW YoRK HERALD,
New York Herald Bureau,
London, April %.
lady Nancy Astor interested and
amused the House Of Commons at the
expense OF John Barleycorn during
tho debate on the licensing reform bill
which is generally recognized as q
liquor trades" measure an IS de-
signed to give longer hri.rs and
greater freedom to public houses.
II am for ideal homes rather than
ideal public houses" was one Of Lady
Astor's quip remarks. Among others
were these: You can't make drink re
spectacle" I'VE hear much about II
ID the name OF freedom. Freedom for
what? Freedom to drink more" And,
referring to the waning political in
fbIence of the liquor traffic: 'n'he sol
diers used to sing rhe poor old Kaiser
amt what he used to be-
As Government's Champion.
sLady Astor figured as the leading
champion for the Government. which
while delaying the introduction OF its
substitute bill has strongly indicated Its
opposition to returning to anything like
pre-war conditions. With her wit and
originality. which always hold the
House, she riddled the bill with telling
arguments. very capably holding her
own against the opposition. which was
inspired by the nature of the subject
under discussion.
The bill proposes among other things
20 extend the hours in which liquor sell
ing places may keep open from six TO
q minimum Of nine hours and a maxi
mum of eleven hours. with loca' option
20 decide If the hours shall be from 5
Al. NJ. to midnight, and also the forma-
tion of licensing courts Of appeal pre-
sided over by three specially appointed
Judges.
sCol. John Gretton. in making . mo-
tion for second reading of the bill at
tackled the Liquor Control Board. and
said the trade regarded itself as
servant of the people. and that the bill
was intended to remedy the difficulties
affecting the trade.
Lady Astor urged the House to look
at the question from a national point
OF view and argued that the Control
Board promoted national efficiency, and
that there was never greater need fo.'
national efficiency than now She de-
clRred that a great deal had been said
about the inconvenience to which some
people had been put.
Recalls Nations Sacrifices.
But" she added. what about the
great sacrifices the nation has made?
IL there Is one thing the Anglo-Saxon
people pride themselves upon It is their
honesty we are not all honest but we
admire honesty Fancy trying 10 make
us believe the bin will have the effect
OF selling more tea, buns and cocoa. II
isn't honest. We can see through IL
al. 1t is the thinnest camoudagt ever
presented in Parliament Drink de-
Stroys efficiency. therefore Il affects
every industry in the country This
hill would increase drink warn
the supporters Of the bill that the drink
traffic has not the hold on the nation
that ii once possessed. The bin threat
ems thousands Of homes in this coun-
try"
when Lady Astor was intor1 upted.
she retorted do listen / may bn
rude. but ] am not long winded She
then went on to say what the coun-
try wants Is a real temperance bill
based on experiences gained during the
war. The first object OF this bill IL
70 sell drinks II isn't a oil 10 try 20
make home life better. Tt Is not trying
10 make the parlor more attractive for
the poor little fly"
1t is not believed that the Govern
ment will introduce its bill al this ses-
sion. but probably VIII wait until au-
tumn. Meanwhile II is hardly likely
that the Defence OF the Realms act,
restricting the sale OF liquor TO certain
hours, will remain in force.