28 JUNE 1924, Page 3

that the Bill should be considered by a Committee of

the * * * * whole House. In our opinion this motion was thoroughly Lord Banbury described the Bill as the worst he had justified. The -expenditure proposed in the Bill is enor- ever read. It would set up a new bureaucracy. Lord moos. After all our efforts to -reduce the National Debt Long was also strongly opposed to it. For our part we we are in danger of having our debts sent up again to a welcome the principle of the Bill, because it would tend point beyond our power .of redemption. And, as the to put disinterested persons in the place of those who Second Reading debate showed once more, Mr. Wheatley now have a very strong and natural incentive to press provides nothing resembling an .adequate guarantee that the sale of drink. There will be no real liquor reform the necessary labour and materials for building houses till that incentive is killed. It is useless to blame any- will be produced. Yet economy is still imperatively body ; the incentive to make private profits out of needed. To pour out money without being sure that we excessive drinking simply should not be there. The shall get anything but a-derisory return is madness. It is only final satisfactory reform, however, will be the owner- not a matter that should be referred to a small Standing ship of the trade by the State. This is the solitary Committee—it is far too important for that. On Mr. instance in which we should like to see State-ownership. Masterman's motion there was a majority of 140 against The State is a bad trader. If it proved to be a bad the Government. The Liberals were greatly pleased trader in drink it would, at all events, be a good trader with their success, and their loud cheers were met by a from our point of view.

running commentary from the Labour benches of " No * * * * recess ! " " No grouse ! " It is most satisfactory that a Royal Commission has