On Tuesday Mr. Asquith received three deputations on the subject
of the coming Licensing Bill. The Free Church Council deputation asked for a very drastic measure, and Mr. Asquith sympathetically replied that in urging their remedies on him they were forcing an open door. On the other hand, " the necessities of practical convenience " had to be considered. The deputation from brewery debenture-holders protested against possible injury to "legitimate interests in a lawful trade." Mr. Asquith recognised the lawfulness of the trade, and said that the investors ought to be " secure against unreason- able or confiscatory legislation." Per contra, there were always differences of opinion as to the point at which legitimate interference ends and confiscation begins. The third deputa- tion, from Liberal and Conservative working men's clubs, viewed "with pain and astonishment" the idea of any restric- tions being applied to their useful institutions. Mr. Asquith said that there were many excellent clubs which had nothing to fear. On the other hand, there were bad clUbs which were only drinking-shops in disguise, and these must be strictly dealt with. Working men's clubs of the right sort would suffer no more than the clubs of Pall Mall. In fine, Mr. Asquith, by his carefully balanced statements, safely kept his secret as to what the Government Bill will be. Later in the week Mr. Gladstone received and reassured a deputation of barmaids, who dread that the employment now enjoyed by many thousands of women will be taken from them by law. Though we agree that work behind the bar is not an ideal occupation for women, we should regard it as most unjust to deprive Ulm* of what is in itself a perfectly honest way of earning a living.
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