The Licensing Bill has been under discussion in the Commons
during the later part of the week, 4,0 tonal in the case of debates controlled by the "guillotine," it is difficult to attach any great sense of reality to the dia- cussion ; but we may note that on Wednesday, when Clause III.—i.e., local option—was being considered, Mr. Asquith undertook to put down amendments which would make it clear that at the expiration of the time-limit only new licenses in the true sense, and not all licensee, would be subject to extinction by a popular vote. On Thursday the House dealt with the general question of the time-limit, an amendment negativing the Government's policy being moved by Mr. Courthope. Mr. Asquith insisted that the precarious privilege conferred by an annual license could not be regarded as property in the full sense,—i.e., as a freehold. As regards the length of the time-limit, he was prepared to listen to what might be aid,—words which are understood, to mean that on Report the time-liwit will be raised to twentpone years.
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