The Bishop of Chester, writing in Wednesday's Times, puts in
an able and temperate plea for Liquor Law Reform. He points out that all the Pablic-house Reform Association asks for is a fair trial of their scheme for local management. They want what the Lords' Committee recommended in 1879,—i.e., "that legislative facilities should be afforded for the local adoption of the Gothenburg and of Mr. Chamberlain's schemes, er some modification." Several Corporations desire to try the experiment; but they dread the cost of the necessary private Bill legislation. If, however, the Bishop of Chester's Bill were passed, this difficulty would disappear. It would enable a Public Trust to be established within any licensing area, and where the ratepayers gave leave, a practical experiment could be tried. The Public-house Reform Association does not ask for universal local management or anything like it, but merely for an experiment.
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