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!LORDS AND THE LICENSING BILL.

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LORDS AND THE LICENSING BILL. THERE was to have been a meeting of Unionist Peers to consider their attitude regarding the Licensing, Bill on Monday, but this has been postponed until Tuesday next, ostensibly for the reason that the Lower House has not yet finished the Bill. Surely it was known before the meeting was convened that this would be the case, and we are not inclined to accept the reason as being the real one. Moreover, although the Bill is not yet in its final form, no changes that are now made will materially alter its character and it could not therefore be too early on Monday for the House of Lords to settle its policy. Mr. Asquith has expressly declared that there is to be no recommittal of the Bill to Committee, and the third reading, the only remaining stage, in the Commons is usually formal in its character. Although if the Opposition make a determined onslaught on the Bill at this stage we also look for strong opposttion from the Lords, There is however. a possibility that the Peers meeting has been postponed because the small but influential section of Unionist Peers, not altogether under Mr. Balfour's sway are inclined to favour the Bill. Whatever happens when the Bill reaches the Lords, will greatly depend upon the attitude of the Opposition- in the Commons on the Third Reading, and their views may be gleaned from the remark- ably indiscreet statement made by Mr. Walter Long the other day in the House, namely-" Thank God there is a House of Lords." This was practically a call to the Lords to throw out the Bill. There is therefore little doubt that a sweep- ing and vigorous attack will be o o made on the Bill, and most of us perhaps can imagine what will be said, but the speech of the Leader of the Opposition will be of special interest. It is on these occasions that Mr. Balfour issues his orders to the House of Lords. We re- collect for instance how on the same stage of the Trades Disputes Bill, he directed how to treat that measure. On Friday we shall therefore learn whether, in" Mr. Balfour's view the Bill ought to be accepted with amendments or re- jected forthwith. On this occasion however, he will not have an unanim- ous party in the Upper House. Whatever Lord Lansdowne and his colleagues may decide to do, it is certain that a considerable con- tingent of Tory Peers, apart from the Bishops will support the Bill, and if the Tory Leaders decide to vote against the second reading in the Upper House they will not carry their Party with them, Of course whatever the Lords do. they do at their own risk. The more the Bill is examined and discussed in the country, the more it is liked, and what is more the publicans appear to be getting fond of it, recognising that it is framed in their best interests. Behind the scenes level headed men of all shades of opinion have been heard to express their approval of the measure, and if it is rejected, even the serene mem- bers of the Upper House will be taken aghast at the raging storm of disapprobation their action has nrovoked. CAbevaA. CVab "Debase. The good attendance at the Liberal Club discussion on Tuesday night, and on the occasion when Miss Walton Evans initiated a Women's Votes debate, seems to prove that there is room for a good general debating Society for the town. At present owing to the lack of reality about the subjects discussed by existing debating societies none of them are in an abnormally flourishing condition, but if all joined in one they would make quite a formidable institution pro- viding that the subjects put down for discussion were genuine ones, on which a man could really say what I he meant. It may be remembered that a meeting was recently held in < the Town Hall to consider the formation of such a Society, but owing to the idea being frowned o o upon in certain quarters, the meet- ing was indefinitely postponed and it is probable that little more will be heard of it. It is said that religious bodies would object to such an institution, but whether they would or not, I think a general society would be a great success. There are many people attached to places of worship who do not attend their own societies' meetings, who would attend a general society, owing to the greater interest displayed. And it must also be remembered that a very large number of people are not attacned to a place of worship at all. Many of these would be- come members of such a Society. At Prestatyn a similar slate of affairs exists, namely there are a lot of straggling societies instead of one good substantial swinging con- cern. The societies held a com- bined entertainment at the end of last season, and the affair was a great success, which seems to be an index as to what general societies would be in either Rhyl or Prestatyn. Socialism. This is a subject which can hardly be satisfactorily discussed in a general way like it was at the Liberal Club the other night. The discussion there resembled what we would expect of a beginners' type. The subject is much too broad to speak on generally you must have your particular branch for discussion to make it like any- thing effective or satisfactory. The great mistake many opponents of Socialism make, is not to study what Socialists actually demand, and instead of endeavouring to meet their arguments by other arguments resort to abusive tactics. It must be recognised that the Socialists as a party are growing, despite Vict Grayson's and other disputes. iW the last municipal elections one saw everywhere in the Press that Socialists had lost 'seats which would give one the impression that Socialism had had a relapse, but as a matter of fact Socialists obtained a much higher total poll than hitherto. A41 of which must make opponents of Socialism a little wary in belittling the adherents to that political creed. '?\\t'U. Prestatyn, as we all know, is a growing place, and its Councillors are to be congratulated upon their decision to seek Parliamentary powers with a view of acquiring the Gas undertaking there. In a town like Prestatyn it is always desirable that the local authority should own its gas and water not only in view of future developments, but to safe- guard against causing any incon- venience or annoyance to visitors, to say nothing of the interests of the residents. With its gasworks and waterworks Prestatyn will certainly continue on its prosperous career, add to this, the electric tramway developments that are coming, and it will be seen that Prestatyn has a nice future before it. 103 Alarming Motor Mishap in Flintshire. While a motor party, consisting of two gentlemen, and two ladies, hailing from Mossley-hill, Liverpool, were driving through Flintshire on Wednesday, the stearing-gear of the car went wrong when near Holywell. Failing to respond to the driver'r manipulation, the vehicle dashed into a hedge, the force of the impact threw the four occupants on to a mound of sweepings some yards away, while the car turned half over, and luckily stuck on the hedge, on the opposite side of which was a steep fall into a valley below. No serious injuries were sustained by the party, who, leaving the damaged motor car in an adjacent farmyard, proceeded to Holywell in a waggonette, and returned to Liverpool by train.

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