In the Commons during the early part of the week
the first clause of the Licensing Bill was under discussion in Committee, or perhaps we should say, under the knife of the "guillotine," for very little real discussion took place, even in the time allotted. The first clause is in reality the Bill, and yet only the first few lines of it were debated. The rest was merely voted. One feels, as one did in the case of the closure on the old-age pensions discussions, that it is useless to summarise debates which led to nothing and which could lead to nothing. We desire, however, to draw attention to a letter in the Morning Post of Wednesday by a Liberal Member, Mr. Belloc, in regard to the use of the "guillotine" and the complete collapse of discussion. Superficial observers may think that the country is indifferent to what has been going on in the House of Commons during the latter part of the Session, but in our opinion it would be most unwise to take the silence of the country for acquiescence. Englishmen often say least when they are most moved, and, unless we are greatly mistaken, a profound sense of dis- satisfaction is growing up as to the passage of important measures without adequate discussion.
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