ANOTHER CASE OF COMPROMISE'

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3189, 13 September 1917, Page 4

ANOTHER CASE OF COMPROMISE'

. The member for tho Eastern Maori District was not very far astray yesterday when he told tho House of Representatives that they must expect a National Government to act in a spirit of compromise. Me. Ngata ,was discussing the Bill to restrict the. hours for the salo of liquor, and was warning tho advocates of 6 o'clock closing that they could not look to secure all they asked for in this matter. The Bill itself, as explained by the Prime Minister, confirmed this anticipation. It is a compromise measure. The advocates of early closing, backed by the recommendations of the Efficiency Board, urged that all licensed houses for the- salo of liquor should bo closed at 6 o'clock each evening. The Bill introduced by tho Government fixes the hours as from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.—olevon hours a day as against sixteen. The Government has stilit the difference between 6 o'clock and_ 10 o'clock, the present hour of closing, and in addition oroposcs to cut off three hours of the early morning irade. That is to say, the Government has yielded to the representatives of the early closers to the extent of reducing tho hours at which liquor may be sold by five hours a day. Though tho Government's nroposals are not likely to give satisfaction either' to the hotelkeepers or'to the early closers, they represent a material' restriction on the liquor trade, and go far to meet | public sentiment on the question. 'it may be taken for granted that tho closing timo stated in the Bill will be challenged both by tho early closers and by the friends of the liquor trade. Opinion in the lobbies appears to favour the view that tho Government's proposal will stand, and last year's division lists on the question support this. The B o'clock proposal last year was lost "by 29 votes to 42, and of the 42 no fewer than 11 were members of the Cabinet. 'Presumably, tho majority of these Ministers will support the Bill this year. In addition, thero is no doubt that .the sentiment in favour of a curtailment of hours Ins grown stronger. Last year a proposal to make tho closing time 9 o'clock was lost by only one vote— R6 t.o 37 votes; this year many of those who voted against 9 o'clock will be voting for _ 8 o'clock closing. As a compromise the. Government apnears to have adopted a course which will save- it from the irniominv of having its proposal rejected. It is fairly certain that but for this concession the early closers would have carried an hour than 8 o'clock, and even as it is the division on tho question is likely to bf a close one.