EARLY CLOSING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2819, 10 July 1916, Page 6

EARLY CLOSING

TENSE STRUGGLE AHEAD

BOTH SIDES CONFIDENT

Grim umlor-surface warfare is at present being waged in the Legislative Halls on the vexed subject of. liquor reform, as represented by tho two subjects of anti-shouting' and early closing. .Both sides claim to be superior in numbers, and, in racing parlance, only when the numbers go un will v the result bo known. The fact that the .favourable recommendation of tho M to Z Committee was "talked out" does not affect the position one way or tho other, as that is merely a technical point of procedure. Tho real strugglo will eventuate on the Committee stage of the War- Regulations Bills, which is expected to be reached at the end of this week. As a preliminary to that consideration, active "lobbying' is being indulged in by both sides, and each, as stated, is confident of victory. On Friday last the members of, the House who have consistently supported tho temperance movement waited upon tho Frime Minister at short notico as a private deputation to njace before the | Government what they hold to be tliy relative strength of the contending parties, and to seek Ministerial assistance in their anus. The Labour Party (owing to short notice) was not represented on the deputation, but -in its ranks there aro at least two Seen Prohibitionists. It is understood that the position is that the Prohibitionists claim thai they hfivo an absolute majority (though small) in favour of six o'clock, a slightly better majority in support of a referendum being taken on tho subject, and a quite substantial majority' for the closing of hotels at 8 o'clock. It is understood that they -represented to Prime Minister that they were determined to raovo in the direction of securing at least one of the two concessions—six o'clock or a referendum. A promise to placß their representations before £abinet at the earliest possible moment wa9 given by Mr. Massey, who, however, would not give any undertaking as to introducing amendments either of these concessions.

Tlie Prohibitionists have, however, already prepared their own amendments to the War Regulations Bill, and will move ill Committee a provision closing the hotels at six o'clock. If their aim is defeated on the vote, they will then move for a referendum to bo taken. They are confident that one or other of these propositions will bo carried, but ill the event of failure they will, it is said, consider tho question of compromising on the closing ,of hoteb at eight o'clock. Under no circumstances, however, will they .consent, they say, to bargain over tho question of anti-shouting, the provision for which in the Bill is looked upon as a very substantial gain for the Prohibitionists over the Trade. They wouM, .in fact, sooner go withbut any restriction of hours at all than lose this anti-shouting clause, their feeling being that if the Trade stubbornly opposed both restriction of hours and "antishouting" it might very, safely be left to the people's decision at the next licensing election. 1

It seems fairly obvious in the lobbies that tho Parliamentary supporters of the Trade are recognising that the feeling both outside and i'nsido Parliament is strongly in favour of somo sacrifice being made by the liquor interests, and they are discussing—tentatively, it is true, but with more willingness than formerly—the question of a compromise. The suggested compromise is from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.,with the condition (to which the Prohibitionists say they will never ogTee) that the Government's "antishouting" priposals be withdrawn. A straight-out conflict is unavoidable, but the foregoing is significant of a growing tendency to compromise, although it is interesting to n"Bte that the liquor supporters claim that they have a majority which will enable them to defeat the six O'clock proposal. If, in tho course of the Committee proceedings, the 'position should lie Teached of provision being made for a referendum of the people on the question, the supporters of the Trade will very likely agree to the proposal, on condition that a referendum shall also be talcen'on the abolition of that other form of war-waste to which the reformers object, namely, racing and the totalisator. This will be a hard condition, as many Prohibitionists are supporters of racing.

The opinion is tvidely held by men \Vho know the House well that six o'clock closing will not be carried. Certainly the majority ;for or against will be narrow.. It may be'that a majority would support a referendum, but as against this there are strong reasons to induce the Government' to oppose a referendum at this time—that a .vote lias been taken on the liquor issue in waf time already, and that a referendum is a device of the Government that is by no means favoured. There seems a distinctly good chance of a compromise being arrived at. between the Prohibitionists and the Moderates, if not between the Prohibitionists and the Trade. The terms of that compromise will probably be thpt the hours of sale shall be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., or from 8.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. If, however, a referendum should be ordered by the House there is very little chance of any question being submitted to the voters regarding the fotalieal'or and racing.