EARLY CLOSING OF THE HOTEL BARS THE MOVEMENT IN NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2704, 25 February 1916, Page 6

EARLY CLOSING OF THE HOTEL BARS

THE MOVEMENT IN NEW ZEALAND

THE MOVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA FEDERAL REQUEST TO STATE GOVERNMENTS By Telegraph—Press A ssociatiou—Copyright Melbourne, February 24. Senator Pearce lias announced that the Federal Government has'asked the New South Wales and Queensland Governments to provide for the early closing of hotels. No particular hour is mentioned, except in regard to tho timo at which soldiers must return to camp. SYDNEY WHARFMEN AND THE EDICT. MEETING OF PROTEST TURNED ' DOWN. 1 (Rec. February 24, 9.25 p.m.) . Sydney, February '24.' The Wharf Labourers' "Union, by a big majority, have turned down a proposal to hold a stofMvork meeting of protest against the six o'clock closing cdict. ORDER AMENDED. HOURS EXTENDED TILL 8 P.M. (Rec. February 24, 10.25 p.m.) Melbourne, February 24. Senator Pearce (Federal Acting-; Prime Minister) has issued an order extending till further notice the /hotel houYs till 8 p.m.

PUBLIC OPINION THERE IS STILL TIME. Sir, —I notice a soldier's mother writing to your paper hud ventured to liopo tho publicans would close early themselves. Lot them do it now; there ii still time, and the general public would be greatly impressed. And look what it would meau to hotelkecpers to get tho sympathy of 'tho great mass of tho people at the noxt poll. It is not niuoh of a saeriiicc to make in war time, is it. —I am, etc., BE SPORTS., "FOR THE SAKE OF OUR BRAVE BOYS." Sir, —May I crave a little of your valuable space to say liow much I liked the little letter by Mary E. Thompson? Burely there is no one m this fortunate land who would not gladly mako some 'sacrifice for the sake of our brave boys ? We are all living in peace and plenty; ip absolute security because they are giving their lives that wo may do so, and I agree with, your correspondent that ■it is time tho hotelkecpers gave up something. They must have mado ii good deal. The better class of workers fdl through the Empiro aro in favour of this early closing at present, and the great mass of public opinion ivill be with the movomtot.-—1 am, etc., WORKING WOMAN. "THREE BLIND MICE.", Sir,—l am tickled to death at tho goings on of your three correspondents, "Diogenes" (you know, he of the tub, or is it a barrel?), "Another Citizen," and "Trust the Men." They aro. so plainly running their heads into a noose, that , they remind me of the "three blind mice." We sco them blyuidericg into this newspaper office, and that, with their fat little pockets bulging with machine-made letters to the editor giving publicity to a scheme that might otherwise have passed unnoticed, and bringing about the very thing they wish to avoid. Writing Under one to-day and another one to-morrow always bitter, always extreme, doing the silliest of things, and in fact they are "All running after tlie farmer's wife, Who will cut off their tails with tho carving knife, And you never will 6ee such.* thing ;n ■ your life As these three blind mice." I am, etc., MEE-OEW. A CLERCYMAN AND EARLY CLOSING. Sir, —The cable man in Sydney has reported in your columns that "The Uev. Mr. Bathgate, preaching at the Litligow Methodist Ciiurch, in favour of early closing, chose the text, 'Howl, yo drinkers.of wine, for it is cut olr t ram 'your mouths.' " The quotation is not correct, and the application of tho true text to early closing is a perversion of tho Sacred Truth. It is a blessing for tho sake of religion that the parson is a Methodist. Joel, in the chapter wherein it is written, "Awake, yo drunkards, and weep, and howl, all yo drinkers of wine, because of the new ivine, for it. is cut off 1 from • your mouths," laments tho disasters that had befallen the people of Israel. I'or drunkards to be cut olf from now wino ivas a severe punishmont, because iho :new.wine was the most rapidly intoxicating. This Methodist parson is asking tlie people of Xow South Wales to close the hotels earlier, and presumably bring distress to the drunkards of New South Wales; but Joel predicted famine in the land, and it was because of tliis calamity all drinkers of wine ivere to suffer. In New South Wales, and indeed throughout all Australia, there has been an abundant harvest, find the prospect of the wine crop is highly satisfactory. Joel's prophesy has no application to Australia, and for a Methodist parson to read into it a lesson to tho wine drinkers of Australia is a perversion which is all the move emphatic since the Provider of all good things has sent to Australia a bountiful provision of new wine wherewith they may be gladdened. In tho same chapter Joel tells the. ministers of religion to howl and lie all night in sackcloth. Thoy, too, like the wino drinkers, must suffer. Why? Because "tho meat offering and the drink offering is withholdcn from tho House of God." This text ought to be taken to heart- by the Methodist parson, for it seems to me that he suffers most from the lack of the "good things" of life. What-is wrong with the Methodiits that they should so suffer? Is it because they deserve no better? Suffering themselves, aro thoy jealous ol the ''good things" other Christians enjov, and advocate early closing to cut tlTem out? —I am. eta., JOEL 11. A CURIOUS IDEA. Sir, —What a curious idea in som? of your correspondents to. make out that advocating the earls closing ol hotels during war time is a slur on the soldiers! I know hundreds of people who are in favour of it (and one ol them derives at lenst a small income from the Trade!), and they honour the soldiers to the utmost! More, they spend much time and money in trying in every possible way to further the interests of soldiers and of their dependents! I wonder if your trio of rathei bjtter .anonymous correspondents nan sny as much? At any rate, they (tlie trio) have unwittingly gjven tho movement an impetus. I said unwittingly, but perhaps it is a deeply-thought-out inspiration of suunnrtoi's. becauso nothing stimulates like a little opoosifion. •—I am, etc., C.B.M. ' CLOSING HOTELS. Sir,—Your announcement that a movement is on foot to close the liquor bars (not hotels) at 6 p.m. has caused quite o flutter in the alcoholic dovenptA. And why not closa thorn at C

p.m.? Most other businesses close at that hour, while the most degrading and devilish business known is allowed to pollute the people until 10 p.m., and not only so, they would like to continue their unholy business (in some cases they are continued all through the night). How linrd they fought tlio L 0 o'clock movement. I am the mother of three sons, the father of whom is a drunkard, and my lifo lias been robbed of ordinary peace and enjoyment, and been ono dreary stretch of misery ar«l sorrow, and all through the cursed drink traffic. I have seen my firstborn going to ruin through the same curse. My experience, therefore, teaches mo that instead of closing liquor bars at G p.m. tliey should bo closed altogether; and further, I believo that God Almighty is going to punish our nation severely for aiding and abetting a traffic the only outcome of which is the destruction of men, women, and children, body and soul. If from no other point of view-than the economic, it ought to bo abolished, as in Russia and France. England wastes at least £200,000,000 per annum," and all she has to show for it is a crop of drunkards and criminals. New Zealand spends about £8,000,000 annually in support of a traffic which brings nothing but poverty, 'degradation, disease, misery, and death. Up to the, present, drink has wrought ten times more mischief upon the nation than Germany, of whom we are all so much concerned. The toleration of *hc liquor traffic is one of the extraordinary characteristics of the British race. If I, and many other mothers in this Dominion, had the making of the laws there would not be a liquor bar in New Zealand, and the people would be about £8,000,000 bettor off. Wouldn't that be nice, Mr. Editor?—l am, etc., i . A SUFFERER. P.S.—Lord Salisbury once publicly stated: "That if the'nation did not strangle the drink traffic, the drink traffic would strangle the nation." My experience and observation of the effects of drink in Britain, coupled with the account of the mutiny in_ Sydney published in Thb Dominion this morning, also the important part played by the "traffic" during strikes and labour upheavals convinces me that there was never a surer word of prophecy, and it is noaring its fulfilment. February 23, 1916. 1 , EXTRAORDINARY TIMES. Sir, —It is really funny how very excited some people get if their pockets arc threatened! Do you remember Clio .fuss wheu there was a talk of raising the fare on the city trams? Now there is a small section of public-spirited people becoming very agitated because the community is at last moving in the matter of early closing of hotels! It is about time Mr, Bung made somo sacrifices! The brewers have not done so badly; but the Bungs of the city, if they give any real support to_ any of the patriotic movements, do it in.a shy and timid way that must be rather foreign to most of them. At any rate, Iheir bushel is so solid that we do not see their light! And, Mr. Editor, these are .extraordinary times, and whilst usually very drastic changes might not appeal to one, there are many of us who feel that at present it fs in the best interests of every section of the community to close the hotels early—even of Mr. Bung, if ho does it m a graceful and patriotic spirit! For just think what a lot of continuation Votes he would score at the next local option.—l am, etc., ' ■ , PAY UP. A CURIOUS CORRESPONDENT. Sir, —Your correspondent ''Fact" quibbles and misleads. In his first letter he said: "Has the Defence Minister any idea as to the amount ol drunkenness amongst the soldiers at Featherston, T.iuherenikau, and Groytowll?" That was in your paper of February 16. Two days afterwards I quoted the Hon. J. Allen in reply_ to such • accusations against our soldiers who had said that "out of 45,000 moil trained and equipped in New Zealand only three had been dismissed for drunkenness." Now, in your February 2*l issue, "Fact" 6ays: "1. did not suggest that drunkenness exists inside the camps." 'But he stated that drunkenness prevailed among soldiers where the. camps were. "Fact" is ready tc suggbst the false hoping he may not be exposed. How like a prohibitionist! Categorically, fact 1 is not a fact at all, but a mere perversion. _ 1 did not write in favour of excessive drinking as "Fact" asserts; and after showing how tbe policy of the prohibitionists was likely to lead to excess among a few soldiers when access to liquor was available, I expressed the hope that a strong man, like the Defence Minister, would arise and say: "I am done with this molly-coddling oi grown men—our country's defenders." And it is time the trickery and meddling of the prohibition party was pul an" end. to in the interests of the soldiers and the peace and goodwill of the community in war time. Fact 2, about all hotels in New boutli Wales being closed to soldiers from C a.m. to 6 p.m. within five miles ol camp is quite true, but why shonlt ordinary citizens be deprived of th< convenience and • privilege of hotek during existing hours? Fact 3: Closing of fish shops at 1C o'clock at Feathefston, same as hotels, is beside the question. But if hotels and fish shops, why not all other places at ten? But that the closing of lis! shops at 10 at Featherston should improve the behaviour of soldiers ii it 3

In AVellington if there is any excess among a few soldiers it is entirely due to the want of facilities to obtain alcoholic'beverages at the camps. If the men were given the privilege of having a quart of light beer every day, with their meals or after their day's work, there would not be such a rush to town. And if the hotels are closed against soldiers, as the prohibitionists propose, then they are endeavouring to create such rioting among our soldiers as Now South Wales suffered the other day. ■\Ye had better leave things as they are. The Prime Minister told a deputation of prohibionists in Christehurch quite recently that "if ■ necessity arose steps similar' to those'taken in.tho United Kingdom would be considered with a view to their adoption in New Zealand," and the soldiers in camp there have their flagons of beor That ir, true temperance, but not prohibition. —I am, etc., TEMPERANCE. METHODISTS' DEMANDS. ' By Telegraph-Press Association. Auckland, February 24. At the Methodist Conference the following notice of motion was given:— That the Government bo asked to lu'ina in legislation to _ restrict the hours during which alcoholic liquors shall be sold, that is by closing the hotel bars at 6 o'clock. Another motion of which notice was given was that this conference urgently appeals to the Government to make it unlawful for publicans or drink-sellers to snpplv strong drink to any members of the Expeditionary Force in uniform.