WESTPORT AND SIX O'CCLOK CLOSING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3126, 3 July 1917, Page 7

WESTPORT AND SIX O'CCLOK CLOSING

Sir,—ln your issue of "the 27' th instant 'appears a report of a meeting held in ■Westport on the 26th re six o'clock closing, which certainly requires an explanation. ■ ■ • f ■ Tho meeting was the result of the last Vsf .three public meetings—reports of whioh 'lave evidently not been sent you; as ■nothing has appeared in your cloumns. i'lhe first meeting was held-in. St. Johns i Schoolroom, presided over by the Rov. 'B. Dudley, F.E.A.S., tho second in. ■'Cadzow's Theatre, which has seating ao■commodation for over 1200 people. _at ■which the Mayor, in an efficient and imjpartial manner, presided. At both of Ihe above meetings resolutions woro put 'and unanimously carried in favour of six o'clock closing or a referendum, t The third meeting was called by tho Waydr for Friday, the 26th, at 8. p.m.. Sβ no evening meeting could be-arranged for before Mr. J. Colvin, M.P., left for ■Wellington. Tho object was to publicly .present tho signed petitions and request the.'member to present them at tho earliest oppprtunity after tho assembly of [Parliament. The Mayor duly handed tha parcel. to Mr. Colvin, who replied that it was his duty and privilege to present any petitions, to Parliament, and. he would .certainly agree to the request to present the. petitions on the , first available occasion after Parliament .met. A resolution was also passed ic.'.questing the Mayor to hold' a public meeting to further discuss the subject, ivith a recommendation, that it bo held ,ln a theatre to provide for a largo attendance. .

The Trade, ivho had- attempted to Wock the petition, arranged for a theatre, and acquainted the Mayor, but later withdrew, and a notice appeared in the paper : that ■ the meeting had boon cancelled. Was this a trick of the trade? '.The Mayor;'had ' then to advertise" tho meeting, for the Towii Hall, which prtfvides standing accommodation for about 150' people, resulting in less : than, onethird gaining access. The Trade- bad scored. Still the meeting was most genial and full of enthusiasm, especially with Tegard to a / straight-out referendum for Prohibition.' A show of hands was taken, •which resulted as follows:—37 for an amendment supporting'six o'clock, 72 for a motion to continue 10 o'clock, iO tofrained 'from rotim?.—l> am, etc., CONSTANT READER. Westport, June 29, 1917.