EARLY CLOSING PETITION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3126, 3 July 1917, Page 4

EARLY CLOSING PETITION

4 -^ DISTRICT MEMBER DECLINES TU SUPPORT IT. (By Telegraph—SDecial Correspondent.) ' ' Napier, July 2. A deputation connected with' ; the sis o'clock closing movement waited on Mrj J. V. Brown, M.P., - to-day, and asked), him to present and support a signed by 3400 persons. The speakers in, support of the petition advanced thej opinion that this measure would assist to win the war, and suggested fairness the brewers should, in keeping; with other trades, be asked to make.some sacrifices. • ' | Mr Brown, .in. reply, irferred to a remark made at the Napier public mceM ing by one of the deputation in which, he indicated that if Parliament had not; been prolonged they would have been, prepared to put the position before the' •people. Hβ read his (Mr. Brown's) re-! mark in opposing the prolongation of Par-, liament, and read the names , of those who voted for it, showing that the majority of the Temperance Party gave, it their support. Ths only one who voted against it was Dr!' Newman. He wae quite prepared to leave the whole of the liquor question, in the hands of the mill* tary authorities to deal with, and lot I them close the-hotels if necessary. He would support in Parliament any clause to hand over control during the war,, eo that thn hotels would be brought! under military law now, /and for sis. months .after the war. That would do-; cide-th* whole question. He would pro-; pose it himself, and he knew there were a good many in the House of tho same opinion. He thought it would be a very , , satisfactory way out of the position. The deputation said -they wanted this early, closing as a measure of war, therefore the military authorities should deal withit. Personally, he did not believe in as o'clock closing, but he would be pleased to present the petition 1 . He always felt that secret vices were the worst, ana this would encourage them. , ' Mr. Brown declined to support tlia petition, and the deputation accordingly; withdrew. - L ■ ■ .. ~ ,