The County Government Bill has been under discussion all the
week, with some results of importance. It was known before the debate began that all boroughs with a population of 50,000, and six or seven historic places—Canterbury, for example—would be constituted counties ; and on Tuesday, after a meeting of the Cabinet, the Government withdrew all the licensing clauses. They had always, Mr. Ritchie said, been submitted to the judgment of the House, as he had mentioned in his introductory speech ; and as the Session had only two months to run, and the opposition to the clauses threatened to be most strenuous, the Government felt it right to lighten the Bill. They still thought their compromise a most fair one ; but under the circumstances, they felt it expedient not to persist. The Opposition declare themselves greatly pleased with this retreat ; but they feel that they have lost a weapon, and are endeavouring to regain it. It is reported that they will propose to retain the clause transferring the licensing power to the Councils, and thus enable them to suppress public-houses without compensation ; but that is nnlikely. They will, however, fight for Clause 9, which enables Councils to close all public-houses on Sunday, an absurd arrangement, based, as the Bishop of Peterborough recently observed, on the idea that it is worse to get drunk on Sunday than on any other day in. the week.
Previous page
