EARLY CLOSING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2807, 27 June 1916, Page 6

EARLY CLOSING

PROTEST AGAINST THE PROPOSAL

DEPUTATION TO PRIME

MINISTER

A protest against tho proposal to close liquor bars at 6 o'clock was raudc by a deputation representing business and commercial men in Wellington. The deputation was the outcome of the meeting Held in Wellington on e'riday last.

Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman introduced the deputation, saying that as one of tho City members he bud been asked to do to. Ho explained that the gentlemen composing tire deputation did not come as representatives of any organisation. Mr. D. M.,Fuidlay, tho first speaker, submitted tile resolution which the meel-ing-ou Friday had agreed to, as follows: -"That this meeting of commercial and professional men of Wellington is strong ly opposed to the request made by a recent deputation to tho Prime Minister for a referendum on_ 6' o'clock closing; that the said deputation had no right or authority to speak on behalf of the professional or commercial community,and, further, that this meeting looks with grave doubt upon the experiment of curtailing the hours of licensed houses, and urges the Government to firmly resist all pressure to hurry tho passing of legislation on a .matter that should only bo approached with tho greatest caution, after thorough investigation; and thut this resolution bo conveyed to tho Prime Minister by deputation." "A Measure Towards Prohibition." He said that the deputation represented a great body of opinion of a private nature, which was very strong in regard to this question. TJio Prime Minister had expressed views very nearly theirs-* a desire that the people of New Zealand should be a sober peoplo now aud for all time. They very heartily endorsed that wish. They congratulated him'on it, and they congratulated him on being l'rimo Minister of one of the soberest countries in the world. (Hear, bear.) One point they wished further to make—that the recent deputation which bad waited upon him claiming to represent tho business and commercial community did not in fact represent correctly the opinion of business and" professional "men. It was tho deputation's belief that the agitation for restriction of hours wits not founded on a genuine wish for reform. It was their belief that it was rather for tlin purpose of restricting the selling hours as a measure towards Prohibition, and not as an immediate necessity of any kind. (Hear, hear.) Such a rcstric tion would largely interfere with public liberties and public and private "rights, and this while the restriction was not at all justified by present circumstances. Upon what grounds was ihe restriction asked for? It was stated on the one hand that it was a matter of military necessity, and on the other hand that it was desirable for tbe purpose of preventing economic waste. *Jf it mra in fact ii matter of military necessity, there would be no stauncber supporters' of tho restriction than the members of the present deputation. (Hear, hear.) Tney were, however, convinced that thcro was manifest evidence that there*was so military necessity for such!a measure. This town was near the training camps, but inquiries made by the Defence Minister had gone to show that liquor had not seriously interfered with the soldiers in the discharge of their duties, or in any way their efficiency. ' With regard to economic saving, he would sug-, gest that this had been advanced as an afterthought to support, a woak case. It would bo very difficult to show that the closing of publichou.se bars at C o'clock would make auy serious difference to the economio situation of this country or its power te carry on effectively its great part in the war. By closing hotels earlier tho only saving would be the saving of tbe glass and the consumption of the bottle, if the Government wished to effect economic saving the problem must bo approached in a. very different way from the haphazard way now proposed. To close the hotels, at li o'clock would restrict the liberties of the men of our splendid Expeditionary Force to a very unnecessary degree. .If any difference must be made in the hours of sale, ' jt would be bettor'to close tho hotels before G 'o'clock than after 6 o'clock. The deputation hoped thut the Government would give to the question earnest consideration. If they gavo it'this consideration they would avoid tinkering legislation likely to causo great dislocation and expense.

The Cry of the Prohibitionist. Mr. A. E. Whyto said that if he and tin others thought that G o'clock closing would in any way hasten tho end of thn war they would not oppose- it. ' "We think," he said, "that this early closing movement is just the same old parrot cry of the Prohibitionist, who is seizing ■a grand opportunity to play upon the war sentiment of the people." After discuss, ing the arguments regarding efficiency mid'economy, Mr. Whyte went on to say: "Now we come to the crux of the whole question—the soldier—and if the Pro. hibitionist hadn't got him to hitch their chariot to this movement wouldn't have a dog's chance. They know that, but won't come out into tho open and admit it. The position is this: Many people are influenced in favour of early closing be-' cause they havo personally witnessed a few soldiers intoxicated—a'few out of the thousands who parade our streets. Now 1 know something about the soldiers. ... I have lived for some time alongside the camp at Trentham, and with the exception of a few wasters-the men are as temperate a crowd as you will find in ■any part of the world. It is a gross calumny to say anything else." "As tor anti-shouting," ho added, "wo hope, sir, that perhaps the sufferings of this war may cause people, oven mem-' hers of Parliament, to see things in their true proportion, and that the public time uhd the public money shall never again be wasted by tho discussion in Parliament of such an insano and preposterous proposal." '

Mr.. L. A. Edwards argued that tie further limitation of Selling hours would 'aggravate an already existing evil, that.of "drinking against time." Tie thought that no mors liquor would be consumed if tho hotels were open longer, and that no ltss liquor, would be consumed if they were closed earlier. Prime Minister's Reply, The Prime Minister, in replying, said that he was very glad to hear what the deputation had had ito say. Although their opinions were not quite the same as those expressed by the last deputation that lie received upon the subject, he did not think that ho could say any more than ho had said on that occasion. He thanked Mr. Fiudlay for his congratulations on being the Prime Minister of one of the most 'sober, countries in the world. He believed that to be a fact. (Hoar, hear.) He had had no personal experience of any other country, but he believed that New Zealand compared very favourably with any other country in tho matter of the Bobriety of its people. (Hear, hear.) Tho wliole point at issuo appeared, as Afr. I'indlay put it, to turn upon tho question of whether there was any military necessity for restricting tho hours for tho sale of liquor to six o'clock. Very, numerously-signed petitions, containing, it was stated, about 100,000 signatures, had been presented to Parliament asking for six o'clock closing. Theso petitions wero now undnr consideration by tho M to Z Public Petitions Committee. The Committee had taken tho evidence of the principal police officers in Wellington, but it had not yet taken the evidence of tho military officers. He knew, however, that it waa proposed to take the evidence of a number of military officers, including that of tho two Camp Commandants. Until the Committee reported, the Government did not intend to proceed any further in tho matter with tho War Regulations Committee. It would bo very impropei tor 171 m, as Jiead of the Government, to commit the Government to any course.' He had not done so in replying to other deputations, and ho- did-not intend to do bo now. Tho representations of tho deputation would receive duo thought and proper consideration. Their representations, as well as tho finding of tho Petitions Committeo, would bo referred to the Cabinet, and both would be given careful consideration.