POLL ON HOTEL HOURS

Chronicle (Levin), 14 February 1947, Page 5

POLL ON HOTEL HOURS

(Speci&l Australian Correspondent.)

Received Tliuisdn v, 9.5 p *n. oYDNEY, Feb. 13._ On Baturdav New South Wales will lake part in t-hat rarest of all plienoniena — a non-political referendum. For the past few months reforin of the licensing law in Ihe State has been frystallised into one issue, whether liotels should be permitted to sell liquor until 10 p.m. or whether they should adhere to the present elosing timo of (i p.m. Spokesmon for the three niajor political parties are einpliatic that tlieir , groups kave no policv in regard. to drinking hour.s. it was too dangerous a subjeet for, as a spokesman plirases it, "We have supporters wlio drink only milk and others who regard a bottle of Scotch as a treasure worlli lighting for. It's up to them to work out tlieir own drinking destiny. ' ' A late elosing staud by anv party would draw against that party a large bloek of women \s votes, whereas a (le--claration for tlie eontinuation of the present practiee would bring protests not only from hardened drinkers but also from many people who believe in the libcrty of the subjeet. Nevertlieless, the liolding of a nonpolitieal referendum is real news. in Australia it is something that has not happened in 40 years. Aetually the referendum has not attraeted mueh attent.ion on the part of bookmakers whose ojieratioiis are usually a clear cloar indieation of the popularity or bthenvi.se of anv public Australian event. Where wagers have been laid, 0 o'cloek elosing luts been quoted at odds on and 10 o 'eloek at even monev. A third alteniatiev oi' 9 o 'eloek is expeeted to be a had last whiehever wav the voting goes.

Ihe spearhead of the fight for 10 o 'eloek is the iquor Trades Council wliieh will have 10, "000 workers at the polling booths on Saturdav. The main active support i'or (1 o'cloek coines from the New South Wales Temperance Allianee. j Mr. Cosgrove, Tasmania's Labour ' Preniier, advise.s a 10 o'cloek vote and' quotes conditions in Tasmania where | this upplies, as ari illustration of sane ; drinking hours. That the New South 1 Wales Labour Party does not intend to be involved is illustrated by -the fact ! that iustruetlons have gone out to all j Labour Leagues warning members that ' the. party maehinerv must not be used1 on either side. The Oonnnunist Partv.T Avhieli is small numerieally, has d'eelared itself for late elosing. In the liquor trade unions there is a sbarp divergenee of -opinion. The Liquor Trades Fmployees' Union is ' eanvassing strongly for G o'cloek elosing but the Hotel, Club and Restaurant Eniplovees' Uuion advoe-ates 10 o'cloek. Costly eampaigns by both sides have | brought tlieir minor bitterness. Early elosing supporters claim that films alleged to slrow the 0 o'cloek rush in hotels, were taken at noon on Saturday. The opposition produees a -statemen.t by "Dr. Zimmerman, Minister of Population in Franee, ' ' in a Temperance AlJaance circular, saying that unrestiieted drinking has mad'e Franee a nation of nleoholies and eites the Freneh press attaehet in Australia as saying that no sueh person existed in present or previous French M inistriea 1 Shrewd judges of public opinion incline to the view tha4 the women 's vote will seenre a eontinuation of the present svstem as women are - notably .unresponsive to .the prospect of being ; able to obtain drink after dinuer. = Many men who are not teetotallers de not favour an extension of hours main- ^ ly because, due to the present beer • shortages, no hotel in the State obser \ es the statutory hours. » ]