The scandal of the London night clubs is, we are
glad to learn, likely to be dealt with promptly by the Government. The evil is admitted, but cannot be grappled with effectively so long as the police are denied the power of inspection. According to the Parliamentary Correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, the Home Secretary has been conferring with the police authorities, and will probably introduce a short Bill next week dealing witb the night clubs in the Metropolitan area. As matters stand, the police cannot enforce the law relating to the hours for the sale of liquor, nor can the clubs be suppressed by administrative order even with the help of the Defence of the Realm Act and the powers conferred on the Liquor Traffic Control Board. We quite agree with the Chronicle that, even if all other clubs —political, artistic, or workmen's—must submit to the possibility of similar police surveillance, the inconvenience must be endured in the public interest. To many of the beat West End clubs the visit of an inspector after dinner would be an enlivening episode.
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