We wish we had space to quote more of the
figures given by Mr. Rowntree and Mr. Sherwell, but we may note that now only about £275,000 a year is received from London licenses, though if London paid in the same proportion as New York the revenue from London licenses would be £2,600,000 a year. The revenue lessons to be derived from these figures are manifold. If the State charged for the share in the liquor- selling monopoly which is granted with a license what they charge in New York, we could solve the problem of how to provide an increased Navy and Army without adding to the burdens of the poor. In our opinion, however, it would be best, if we adopt a high-license system, to let the proceeds go to diminish local rates. If we sold the monopoly in liquor. selling instead. of giving it away, we might lift the weight of local taxation which now presses so hardly upon agriculture and upon house property in towns. To throw away such a national asset as that which is to be found in a high-license
system is nothing short of criminal when we consider how many important reforms are blocked from lack of public funds.
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