The newspapers during the past week or more have been
full of rumours, half-rumours, and quarter-rumours that the Government are at last going to do what they ought to have done two and a half years ago at Mr. Lloyd George's invitation—adopt the policy of State Purchase for the Liquor Trade. We have always held that nothing did more credit to Mr. Lloyd George than the part he played in the spring of 1915. Though no details have yet been published in regard to the present scheme, we most sincerely trust that it will prove to be bold and comprehensive, and not an imitation of, or substitute for, true State Purchase. The imitation policy will merely mean an expenditure of a large sum of money with half the evils left over to breed fresh subjects for compensation. The only satisfactory scheme will be one which will eliminate the element of private profit from the manufacture and sale of intoxicants.
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