British Gothenburg Experiments

IN addition to the foregoing instances, several isolated attempts have been made in various parts of the country to eliminate private profit from the local liquor traffic. Among these may be mentioned the inn at Wantage, Berkshire; the Spencer Arms Inn at Chapel Bampton, Northamptonshire (The Harleston Inn, Northamptonshire, is not here included, since it is carried on entirely in the interests of the local Cooperative Society. ); the New Inn at Childs-wickham, Broadway, Gloucestershire; the Spital Beck Inn, Yorkshire; the Plymouth Arms at St. Pagan's, Eedditch ; and the late Sir E. Lechmere's Inn at Hanley Castle, Worcestershire.

WANTAGE, BERKSHIRE

Referring to the first of these, the late Lord Wantage said (Quoted by the Rev. Osbert Mordaunt in his pamphlet entitled Reformed Public-Homes, published in 1898. ): " The public-house here continues to succeed perfectly. It has now been working about ten years. The manager receives a fixed salary of £100 a year. He has no profits on the sale of intoxicants. One room is reserved for those who call for tea, coffee, etc. It is an open house, and beer is obtained according to the wishes of those who are served. The fixed rent to me as owner is £20 a year. The profits, after all expenses, average about £150 a year, and are distributed according to the decision of a committee, of which I and my agent are the chief members. The money has been used in paying all expenses of management of a Friendly Society, also in putting up lamps in the two parishes, and providing all expenses in the maintenance of them, lighting, etc. The facilities of having the best room in the house specially reserved for those who do not take beer or spirits is decidedly advantageous. The usual newspapers are provided free."

Brief particulars of the remaining houses are given by the Rev. Osbert Mordaunt in his pamphlet on Reformed Public-Houses published in 1898, and they need not be further referred to here. The houses are all small.