In the House of Commons on Monday the Chancellor of
the Exchequer spoke with great seriousness on the financial position and the need of saving. It was necessary, he declared, to bring home " to the 'ergo classes who were now enjoying exceptional wages the urgent necessity, in their 'own interest and the interest of the State, to save a considerable portion of their earnings." Economy in expendi- ture was vitally necessary. The nation must be made to understand this, and a suitable instrument mint be devised by means of which the Government might avail themselves of the nation's savings. That, of course, is absolutely true, but what is the use of making such appeals and never referring to the one, we had almost said the only, way, or at any rate the only way on a big scale, in which we can save—the saving on alcohol P But that, alas ! is one which the Government seam not to dare to mention. A magic influence behind seals their lips as they approach the problem. We are not going to make any pretence of not knowing what the magic influence is. It is, we venture to say, in the first resort the Nationalist Party, who veto prohibition during the war, and behind them " the trade," who, in spite of their alleged Unionism, are glad to associate themselves with any one who is sound on the liquor problem.
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