It was fitting that the first speech made by a
woman in the House of Commons should have been a plea for the State control of the liquor traffic on the lines of the Control Board's Carlisle experiment. We congratulate Lady Astor on the courage and good sense which she showed on Tuesday in opposing Sir John Rees's motion to abolish the present restrictions on the brewers and publicans. Lady Astor reminded the House that this was a question for women as well as for men, and that under the Control Board drunkenness among women had been checked. She admitted that, though she would welcome Prohibition, the country would not have it. But a drastic reform of the old and intolerable system would, she said, be welcomed. Reminding Mr. Lloyd George of his assertion that drink was a greater foe than the ' U '-boats, she "wanted to see that the drink sub- marine did not torpedo the Prime Minister." We should like to offer Lady Astor one piece of advice. The Prime Minister will be less influenced by quotations from his old speeches than by a plain indication that a surrender to the Trade u ill cost him many votes—and especially the votes of the women.
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