THE TRADE AND COMPENSATION.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
Sta,—Now that "State purchase" is about a certainty, we are all hoping that you will still adhere to your words, published in the Weekly Dispatch of December 2ith last, as follows: "If the Trade ' is properly compensated, as we insist it shall be," &o. Those words will have given "comfort" to thousands. There could not be more definite, fearless, benevolent words sent out— through the medium of any newspaper—to a "class" of the people who are deeply groaning under the most exuberant "State pressure." You used the word "properly," for which we thank you, whether you will be able to carry it through or not.
Yon will remember the Government buying up some " Trade" properties at Carlisle a short time ago, and how some of the newspapers fairly chuckled with pleasure at the "low prices" for which the Government had been able to buy those properties. Let us hope that some gentleman who is possessed with a " soul " will step in and see that " innocent" people have "fair play," when the time comes that they are " compelled " to " barter " away their " independent means" of obtaining a livelihood. This will be a mighty factor in the lives of a multitude of people. Surely a matter of this or of such magnitude should be carefully considered when the time comes for the fixing of com- pensation. You might almost say with certainty that a great number of landlords, when they are " bought out," will flounder about till they find themselves in the poorhouses, not knowing what to do, which will be no small matter to them, and they are " human." There are men in the " Trade " losing thousands of pounds. My beer sales (the foundation of my business) have gone down ninety per cent. What are such as myself to do with a lease on their hands? Will leases be taken into consideration? Will the profits made previous to the war be considered as part of the tenant's estate? Surely this will be so when it is proved that he bought the lease on the takings given to him in figures. We shall all be glad if you will give us a little more " daylight " respecting these matters, seeing that they reach the very founda- tion of our whole existence.—Hoping to find that your next issue contains a " halo of hope" for us " Armenians" of England, I
Bull Hotel, Nuneaton.
[Liquor has ruined many thousands of homes, but Heaven forbid that Purchase and the elimination of private profit from the sale of intoxicants should cause similar miseries. We most earnestly desire that all persons whose power of earning a living is taken away from them shall be justly treated, but our correspondent must remember " He that will not when he may, &c., &c." Procrastination offers terrible dangers to the Trade.—ED. Spectator.]
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