21 JULY 1894, Page 15

REFORMED "PUBLICS."

To MR EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sen,—All reasonable men will hail with enthusiasm the newly formed Public-house Reform Association. My object in writing is not to criticise it, but to offer an alternative to one of your suggestions. You propose that the surplus which there will be, shall be spent in reducing the National Debt. Now, as the sale of intoxicating liquors will be largely reduced, it follows that the amount obtained from the tax on them will also be reduced, and I think that the Association will do well to offer to make the deficiency a first charge on its surplus. In doing so, it would be lessening the chances of opposition from the Government, and also avoid the risk of an increase in the Income-tax, which nobody wants to see. While at the same time, it would not be spending the money in any way which could lead to the sale of intoxicants being pressed by