X 
PREFACE 
petition being removed, the general level of service 
would deteriorate. There may be a certain amount 
of truth in this criticism, but my view is that, on the 
whole, competition in the licensed trade does more 
harm than good. It tends to lower rather than to raise 
the standard of service; it certainly aggravates un- 
desirable features and leads to increase of intemperance. 
The fundamental truth in this matter is that, under 
present conditions and in the present state of civilisa- 
tion in England, a bad public house pays better than 
a good public house. Competition tempts even the 
most public-spirited brewer into the management that 
pays best. Competition has a tendency to drive him 
to favour bad public houses. It is not the brewer 
who is at fault, but the system—he is the result rather 
than the cause. 
As regards the arguments that there is a danger 
that the establishment of a monopoly in each area 
would lead to bad service to the public, my reply is 
that a controlling public authority could be established 
of such a nature as to guard against this danger. The 
difficulty of control would be infinitely less than the 
difficulty of State management. Service to the public 
should therefore be better than under State control. 
Moreover, I incline to the view that the existence of 
clubs would act as an effective correction of any 
tendency on the part of the monopoly authority to 
supply bad service. 
[ do not attach undue importance to the view that 
disinterested service by the publican is an important 
factor in creating temperance. This theory has been 
greatly overdone. Whatever truth there may be in it, 
the proposed system would diminish the danger.