12 JANUARY 1918, Page 3

We have to congratulate Sir Arthur Yapp. We gather from

reports of a speech which he delivered on Monday that he is the first person in authority who has suggested any voluntary rationing of beer. We must confess that we have virtually abandoned hope of making any impression upon the Government as regards the de- struction of barley and sugar for the purpose of making beer ; but in spite of this we have wondered, as our readers already know, why the Government could not at least request the drinkers of beer to put upon themselves the same sort of voluntary restrictions that the eaters of bread are urged to put upon themselves.