LIQUOR AND RACING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3015, 28 February 1917, Page 5

LIQUOR AND RACING

METHODISTS WANT EARLY CLOSING

STATEMENTS BY SIR J. ALLEN

; A strong appeal for the early closing tof hoteis and for a reduction in racing was made by a. deputation from the [Methodist Conference, which waited upon the Acting-Prinio Minister (Horn Sir James Allen) yesterday afternoon. The deputation was introduced by the Rev. John Dawson, who said that it represented tho full strength of tho Methodist Church in New Zealand.

. The Rev. W. J. Williams said that there was ono sentiment throughout the ■■ Church with regard to the liquor trafMethodists felt that the opportunities for drinking ought to bo curtailed in war time, and they regretted exceedingly that New Zealand should be the only part of the British Empire to refrain from strong action in that direction. They asked for early closiug ] on economic, moral, and physical grounds, and in tho interests of tho Dominion's manhood and womanhood . .They felt keenly, too, on the.subject «f facing. They did not think it fitting (that while thousands of New Zealand's best sons were fighting and shedding •their blood at the front, the number <jf race meetings should actually be (increased. The deputation -asked that the Government should reduco the number of raco meetings. Action in thai direction would save money, and assist 'recruiting, since many hundreds of eligible men wero being kept in' New •Zealand by the hire of the racecourses. Mr. B. H. Bennett and the Rev. teobert Haddon supported Mr. Williams , Mr.. Dawson said that the - public slieard from time to time of troubles that had been caused in the camps by drink! ' A > reduction in the amount of drinking would mean fewer 'accidents and increased efficiency, it would mean .that fewer soldiers would have to be sent to Port Chalmers, and that fewer men would have, to bo .taken out of the firing line, whero they were urgently required. Sir James Allen-said he supposed the members of the deputation realised that it was very difficult for tho Cabinet to deal with tho liquor question in the absence of:tho Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward. The representations that I had been mado by the deputation would ;be placed' before Cabinet at the earliest ■opportunity. "You know that the liquor j Jiuestion was placed before Parliament last. session," said tho Acting-Prime ■Minister. "An opportunity was givon /Parliament to decide i whother there should be any reduction in the hours of sale of liquor,, and Parliament deSided , that there should not bo. I am "entirely in sympathy. with you in your 'desire to protect our. soldiers from tho consequences of over-indulgence ;u liquor, and from the indirect consequences to which Mr. Dawson has blluded. We have done what wo could, dn view of the decision of Parliament, to influence the young men in camp to (<!xercise restraint in regard to liqiior. "iWo prohibit liquor in the camps altoIgetherj.wo prohibit it.in tho military jtrains, and we have adopted anti-shout-ing regulations.. A great deal has been Hone, though I am not prepared to say ithat wo have done all that we could Wo, or all that we should do.

."With regard to the racing question, I am in. a position to give a somewhat iWre favourable answer. We are not m a position to deal with this year's racing permits, hut the matter will Jcome up for the consideration of Cabinet within the next month or two in .'connection with next season's permits. '.3 am under the impression thst there .Trill then ho, some limitation of totalisa/tor permits. As far as I am concerned,'I shall be very glad to see them limited. ,'I do not think that any sensible man to abolish all the legitimate pleasures of the. people oven in war time. Jtthe legitimate pleasures are serving a /Useful purpose, and so long as racing jfis kept within reasonable limits, and is kept clean, I do not see any objection to its continuance. But Ido want as soldiers a good many of the young Imen who are engaged in racing. I think , they will bo better engaged serving 'their country in the Army than running 'the racing stables. I intend to get ithem if I can."

; . The deputation thanked the Minister ffor his reply.