FOR A BETTER ENGLAND
[To the Editor of the Seams-ma.] am glad to know that you are in cordial agreement with most of the views expressed by Mrs. Gilchrist-Thompson in her outspoken letter on this extremely important subject. But you take exception to her remarks re the excessive drinking facilities pushed for private gain, regardless of the • wishes of the people. It must, however, I think, be admitted • that, in the main, her statement is a correct one, and, bearing in mind the ramifications of the drink trade, the enormous sums of money invested, the big dividends Paid to such a large number of shareholders, it would be foolish to expect the trade not to be pushed, and pushed it certainly is with but little, if any, consideration for the victims.
Nor can it be denied that the habits fostered by this trade are responsible for a large percentage of the feeble-minded, unmoral, unstable parents referred to by Mrs. Gilchrist-
• Thompson. Is it not, therefore, the duty of all social reformers -to deal much more seriously with this, the drink, question, than they have yet done, especially in view of the strenuous [What we said last week was that it cannot be said in fairness that the Drink Trade "is fostered against the wishes of the electorate." Nor can it—at present there is much indifference on the subject. We confidently look forward to the day when the trade will be taken out of private hands and disinterested management will be substituted—but, alas that time is not yet.—En. Spectator.]
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