6 MARCH 1920, Page 13

STATE PURCHASE OF THE LIQUOR TRADE. (To THE EDITOR OF

THE " SPEcrezott."1 SIR,—Canon H. D. Rawnsley in an emphatic letter under the above heading in your issue of the 28th tilt., and which is largely based on the evidence of figures unseen, challenges Mr. Talbot's statement that a general system of State ownership and State management would involve an enormous and costly central Department. I can assure Canon Rawnsley that many People who still are of opinion that they have not as yet taken

leave of their senses consider that State ownership of the Liquor Trade will involve a very heavy cost and a numerous body of State servants, whether centralized or not, and I should be greatly obliged if he would set forth in your columns how such an undesirable result is to be avoided.—I am, Sir, dtc.,