Limiting the Liquor
Page 38
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I T did not seem possible to look for any great improvement in the standard of enforcement of the law dealing with offences committed by "boozing bus parties," admitted Mr. John Maclay, the Scottish Secretary, in the Commons last week..
He did not think that any complete solution to the problem of these parties could he found in legislation, said the Minister, who was opening a debate on the licensing (Scotland) Bill, Mr. Maclay pointed out, however, that the Bill did make it a criminal offence to carry liquor in hired buses in any receptacle constructed or adapted for the purpose of carrying liquor in bulk.
The Government appreciated that the Clause was open to evasion, but this type of party was primarily a habit, and-those who indulged in it would find it highly inconvenient to carry liquor in quantity in any way which did not contravene the provisions of the Clause.
He fully accepted that this was a matter full of difficulties, but thought that the Government move would certainly do a great deal to discourage what they all wanted to discourage.
During the debate the general feeling among M.P.s was that the Bill would not stop boozing bus parties—which were roundly condemned by everyone.
One Labour Member, Mr. William Ross (Kilmarnock), claimed that responsibility had to be placed fairly and squarely on the person who ran the bus.
"If a person is running a bus for his livelihood and it is used in such a way as to be a disgrace to Scotland we have to fasten responsibility for that on the operator, and I am sure that if we did so the disgrace would soon pass," he said.
Before the Bill was given its Second Reading Mr. R, Brooman-White, Scottish Under Secretary, conceded that it was easy to point out the imperfections in this Clause. The Government, he said, would he very pleased if anyone could think of anything better before the Committee stage.
(More Parliamentary news on page 406)