[To TIED EDITOU OP THE "SPECTATOR. " ] Sin,—However much opinions may
vary as to Mr. Lloyd George's ante-bellum activities, there is no doubt he possesses qualities that at the present time are invaluable, and those who have the well-being and prosperity of the nation at heart will feel grateful to him for his firmness in the matter of the new Order issued by the Board of Control (Liquor Traffic). As he points out, it is more than one can expect to get absolute unanimity. Any measure to restrict the hours of opening of licensed houses would be sure to raise a crop of objections such as "Looking for Trouble" in the Morning Post. All the arguments here are. just such as were to be expected, but they would carry more weight if some of the statements made in connexion with them were more accurate. Are the people of London as temperate ire any population in the world P One knows, unfortunately, that this is not the case. And it might be suggested that when we are fighting for our existence even "these cheerless days and dark nights" might be spent to better advantage than in a bar parlour. however "pleasant." Our individual liberties hive been, and are being, curtailed day by day in the interest, not only of the nation as a whole, but of the cause we are fighting for, and it is to be hoped that in the matter of drink, which undoubtedly stands in the way of* efficiency, they may be curtailed further still.—I am, Sir, &c., E. G.
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