29 MARCH 1924, Page 13

LORD ASTOR AND THE DRINK TRADE.

(To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Lord Astor, at a meeting of the Cambridge Union held on March 4th, is reported to have said, " Later, when with the Ministry of Food, he found that the drink trade was so powerful that it was the one trade which had sufficient power to prevent the Government from seeing its books." To the best of my knowledge and belief no " trade " had " sufficient power " to do anything of the sort, Perhaps Lord Astor will be good enough to explain.—I am, Sir, &c.,

F. P. WarrimEAD.

5 Upper Belgrave Street, London, S.W. 1.