[To"the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—You say in an Editorial
note to letter last week that the insuperable objection to prillte ownership of the drink Trade is that the Trade will aiNays,try to make as much Money as possible. No (16131:44 will But as I had explained in my article, the control of drink during the War by Laid D'Abernon proved that the Trade could be extraordinarily prosperous and the nation extraordinarily sober at the same time. This destroyed the entire aisumption upon which Temperance reform was traditionally based. We must think in new ways. It would be an excellent thing for the country if a Trade, more prosperous than ever, were persuaded, or compelled, to use its wealth in reforming out of all knowledge the despicable type of public house. This seems to me to be the only certain and rapid way of getting reform. Licensing Justices have frequently prevented reform because they assumed that larger public houses meant more drinking. The Carlisle experiment has taught 'is all better, and I am thankful to note that many Benches are changing their views.—I am,
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