EARLY CLOSING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2802, 21 June 1916, Page 6

EARLY CLOSING

. CHANCES FURTHER DISCUSSED. / In view of the fact that the hearing of further evidence in regard-to the petitions presented to the House in favour of six o'clock closing of hotels- has been postponed till next week, there is not so much talk in the lobbies on the. subject of liquor control as.tliero was Inst week. The position is as already stated, viz.. that both thoso who favour as well us those who oppose a reduction of hotel hours, express themselves in hopefulterms. Thoso opposed to a reduction of hours state that as a result of a careful pricking of the card they are assured of a majority. They claim that out of 71 members (tho maximum voting' streagth of the House after allowina for the Speaker and absentees) they can command at least 30 votes,' and that th# votes of a number of others may be ten lied upon in'favour of a continuation, of the present hours'. Some of the opponents of reduced houru assert that there should be no restriction of hours under licenses granted in terms: of the Licensing Act, withouk.wnnipensafion. Those who favour the reduction claim that there is no precedent for the. payment of auy compensation iu re. gard to sucli a measure of national economy in war time. As already indicated, the disposition of those opposed to reduced ' hours has Leen to offer no 'opposition to tho antishouting clause/but it is stated that if those who aro demanding the more stringent regulation of the liquor traffic will not accept the' anti-shouting clause as' a compromise, but press for reduction in hours, the provision against antishouting as weli as the. demand for early closing will be opposed. Tho possibility of a compromise in tho form (if eight o'clock closing, which was mentioned last week, is .'till suggested. A NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE RESO-' LUTION. A special meeting of the New Zealand Alliance Executive was held yesterday afternoon, when the following resolution was unanimously adopted:— "That in view of the urgent need for economy and efficiency in order ■to win tho great war in which our nation is engaged—a need which has been stressed by the Prime Minister of Great Britain and by our own Prime Minister, as well as by military, authorities and business men—this executive learns with satisfaction that the Government in the War Regulations Bill proposes to deal effectively with the practice of 'shouting' or treating. It deeply regrets, however, -that despite the presentation of petitions to Parliament containing ono hundred thousaud signatures in favour of the early closing of hotel, bars, there is no provision in the Bill dealing with this subject.' • It views with alarm tho decision of the Committee to which the petitions were referred, to adjourn for nearly a fortnight tho consideration of one of the most urgent matters now before Parliament; and calls upon all thoso who do not desire to see the question shelved to take prompt action.with a view: to inducing Parliament to pass the necessary: legislation forthwith."