HOTELS STILL CLOSED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1915, 25 November 1913, Page 9

HOTELS STILL CLOSED.

ORDER; RENEWED FOR ANOTHER WEEK. (By Teleffraph.—Pr«ea Aesooiatlon.) Auckland, November 24. Tho advisability of reopening the hotels was again considered by the City Magistrates to-day. Mr. Kettle stated that ho had received a report from the Superintendent of the Police in which tho superintendent expressed the opinion that the most dangerous time of the strike was now passed, and suggested that the hotels should be reopened early this week. Superintendent Kiely when asked to ospross an opinion said that during the past fortnight. the town had certainly been very quiet and he suggested that the hotels might now be reopened during certain hours, for instance, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. for a few days. They could then he opened until 10 p.m. as beforo. It was quite 'probable that if the hotels were now opened for tho full timo thero would bo troublo during tlie evenings, no matter how careful tho public might be. If they were opened during certain hours as he had suggested ho did not think thero would bo much danger of disturbances taking placo.

The Chairman of the Strike Committee strenuously opposed the suggestion that tho hotels should bo reopened. Ho hoped the magistrates would keep the hotels closed for another week at least. They could then consider any further application. The Rev. Isaac Jolly, speaking on behalf of tho Auckland Ministers' Association, said that at a mooting held last week tho association had been unanimously of opinion that until the present crisis was ended the bars should not bo opened. Superintendent Kioly said that tho statements made by tho various speakers had not altered his opinion in tho least. Tho strikors only represented a very small portion of tho population of Auckland, and tho convenience of tho majority should bo 'considered. Mr. Kettle said that tho magistrates . had decided to renow tho order closing tho hotels. Tho position had been very materially altered for the better, so far as opening the hotels was concerncd. Owing to tho fact that those who wcro still, on strike, and many others would have tiino to go to the hotels during the day, tho magistrates did not st the present timo think that restricting of tho hours during which the hotels wero opened would meet tho case. They had decided to make nn order closing tho hotels for another week from 10 a.m. to-morrow, but they would definitely reconsider tho position at 2 p.m. to-morrow (Wednesday) and would take- tho position carefully into consideration thereafter from da.v to day with a view to cancelling the order as soon as' tho circumstances justified their doing so.