AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2795, 13 June 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE SIX O'CLOCK WIN RESULT OF LIQUOR BATTLE REVIEWED. . By Telegraph-Press Assomtioil-'Cocpyrielit , - Sydney, June 12. While undoubtedly patriotism was the keynote of Saturday's vote, it may be regarded 'to some extent as the country's reply to Mr. Holman's ' famous ukase, "10 o'clock or nothing," uttered when the Liquor Bill was before the As. sembly. The Legislative Council cut the hour down to 9 o'clock, an hour which, all parties expressed willingness to ae. cept, but Mr. Holman. would have none of it, and made tlie .'Bill waste paper, rousing a simmer of resentment and criticism which undoubtedly assisted the reformers' efforts. : • • - The result was beyond the expectations of the moderates. The Alliance gives a full .meed -of praise to the work of influential parties outside the direct temperance movement, whose appeals were bused on patriotism. and war efficiency. The liquor ' interests anticipated a re. verse, in the city and suburbs, but expected to make in the country. Already thero'are lugubrious forecasts of wholesale ruination, of publicans and disastrous effects on trade and 60cial life. (See. June 12, 9.10 p.m.) Sydney, June 12. Ihe 6 o'clock closing order will operate, without further Parliamentary intervention, as soon as the Returning Officer's declaration as to the result of'the referendum has been gazetted—probably within a fortnight. ■ The result of the poll was beyond the expectation of the most sanguine supportters of 6 o'clock. Both sides admit that it was a fair fight. The president' of the Licensed Victuallers'.Association expected a close contest, and was surprised at the big majority.. "It.was.the woman's day all right," he said, "and. it will mean a tremendous loss to the present licensees. : Goodwill, values will be reduced." -,■* " The Ministers' Association (rj will appeal t<> Parliament as soon as it meets to legislate to reduce hotel rentals and licensing fees, and allow puoiicans to supply soft'drinks and light refreshments till eleven o'clock,at night. : .T". LATEST FIGURES. ' ,'. (Rec. June 13, 1 a.m.) Sydney, June 12. The latest Tofercndatu returns 6how that 8 o'clock scored 328,585 votes,' and U o'clock 169,294 votes. • ; MR. HOLMAN'S OPINION. NATIONALISATION THE ONLY SOLUTION. Sydney, June.l 2. Mr. Holman, reviewing the vote, said that in his view no lasting.good: could be' secured by tinkering- with' tlie"jjoeition with such methods as early-closing, reduction, and other similar measures. The Government at next elecfion "would hold a referendum on the' question of the- nationalisation of- the liquor -traffic. The present decision of the people would not aid the prosecution, of the ' war, which would be settled by 1 bullets and not bottles. "STUNNING BLOW- TO LABOUR GOVERNMENT." Sydney, Juno 12. The ' "Sydney Morning Herald'' statos: "The referendum • is. a- stunning blow to the Holman Government, which has shown itself sadly ,out of touch with the great body of the electors. The vote is not the result'of hysteria, but of sound, common sense." A SLAP AT CAUCUS RfILE LABOUR REVERSE. AT BY-ELEC-TION. Sydney, June 12. At Gingara by-election Mr. MDonald, who resigned as a protest, against- the Political League domination, recontested tho seat as an Independent Labour candidate, and defeated Mr. MTLelland, who was strongly supported as the caucus nominee. AN UNSOLVED MURDER MYSTERY. THE DEATH OP PAPPAGEORGI. (Rec. June 12, 9.10 p.m.) Sydney, June 12. It was reported on April 5 last that the body of Georgo Pappageorgi, a - Greek, had been found at tho, rear of his cafe in George Street. His' head had been smashed. There was a cleaver alongside, and a rope had been tightly tied round his ncct The cash register had been' rifled.

At the adjourned inquest, an opon verdict of murder was returned. The efforts of the police to trace the perpetrators of the deed have been futile.