THE LIQUOR TRADE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3193, 18 September 1917, Page 6

THE LIQUOR TRADE

: ! GOVERNMENT URGED TO TAKE [' DRASTIC MEASURES

VARIOUS RESOLUTIONS

Bj. Telegraphs-Press Aseociltion,

i ■■ Hawera,/September 17. r The Hot. "Mγ. ijinuiiies, secretary of I ' the New Z&iland. Methodist Social Service ; Union, iu a- letter to tte Minister' of : Finance conveying tho congratulations of s the union at the success of the War Loan,-expresses regret that tte Govern- ?_ ment has taken no steps to eliminate Uio ilnnk evil. Then tho following passages I occur:—"Few serious attempts aro ever £ made to contravene tho truism that '.lie j liquor trado is the greatest source of „ inefficiency "and wasteiuluess in our ia- »■-' tion. The public> must be assured by ' • tho Government of tho urgent need for J practising strict economy. We ttelievo that consistency would direct the (iovernment to eujpport its own appeal by firm and drastic measures, by iin neroic course with a view to; the immediate ' ending of the squandering of man Mid money power that is now visible as a direct outcome of the liquor trade. Hence we are disappointed beyond*, measure at the .trivial,means just suggested by the (jovernruentto.deal with this problem. It nppears to us—we eay it with all .lourtesy, " yet with frankness—the height of inconsistency 'to preach economy and uot practise it." ■'' ■ By Telogrßph—Eress Association. Auckland, September 17. A crowded meeting in the Town Hall, over 3000 people being present, carried a resolution expressing strong protest against the Government's attempt to thwart the will of the people by proposing to close hotels at 8 o clock, When i the/known and expressed will of- the electors is that bars should, be closed at 6 o'clock during and until six months after the war. The meeting also carried i a. motion emphatically -urging the Gov- j emment, in tho event of its refusal to | ' provide for G o'clock closing, to forth- j •with introduce legislation to enable the ' .usual triennial poll of the people, due j this year, upon the Prohibition issue to | lw taken, in terms of the reoomraenda-; tion of the Efficiency Board., x •} A motion on" behalf of Labour, that an election should bo held at the end of tho present year, was disallowed on tho j' .voices. . _■ ,1, Dunedin, September 17. '. 'A meeting organised by business men ■was held to-night, when a motion v.-as carried protesting emphatically against the failure of the Government to provido as a war measure for! the i-lo'sing of liotel bars at 6 p.m., and calling tn Par- , liamfnt to give effect ■to the widely- '; expressed will of a great majority .of tho people in this respect. There was a fairly good attendance, and several speeches were made in favqur cf 6 o'clock closing. Invercargill, September 17. The Invercargill Reform.Council, representing the largest electorate in the Dominion under No-Licence, resolved: "Be- ■> cause of the expedience of partial I'roiibition during the past twelve months, the Invercargill Kcforni' Council earnestly urges Parliament to vote li o'clock closing. The council recognises this is ' only a partial remedy ior luo trying '"evils-of the drink- traffic, • but it is the only remedy at present available, and " is entitled to the support of all ctatesjnen who have the true interests of the Dominion, at heart." At Methodist Fervices at Pahiatua, Eal- ' ."lance, Makomako, and Marima on Sun,.day, a motion on the six o'clock closing question now before Parliament was sub- . mitted to the people, and at each place it was carried unanimously. At Pahiatua the Rev. H. Cottom said that there ■was intense dissatisfaction at the manner -the National Government had treated moral questions, and the Government ■would not do anything unless absolutely compelled. He instanced what had been done by the Government in .England and Australia since the war as regards the liquor trade, and pleaded that for i the sake of the soldiers the reform asked for in New Zealand ehould be given effect to. He thought that oven now the force of public opinion might bo snch ae to cause the hours made in the Bill to be amended. ■/..■. • ■ • ' ■ ■

- ' The, motion was as follows:—"This congregation -expresses'its deep regret that ■the .Government lias not yet acceded to the'request of the'people for 6 o'clock . closing. It reminds the Government that the. request has been endorsed by the Ef- „ fieiency Board, and believes.that nothing .else will meet the case. It'ropeate the demands.for 6 o'clock closing/and hopes that even now the Government, will giant this ■request." It was announced that copies of the resolution would bo forwarded to the Prime. Minister and Mr.. «. H. Smith, M.P. ■ ■ ■ . DEPUTATION TO PARLIAMENT. A deputation by people in favour of : 6 o'clock closing of hotel bars will wait -.on- Parliament to-day. There Trill be :. a-procession starting from the Salvation .■Army 'barracks in'.Vivian Street at 5 •p.m'; . The deputation takes place at the porticp of the Parliamentary Library at A meeting of business men in favour of 6 o'clock closing was held in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken presided, and the chain-= ber was full. Arrangements were made for to-day's deputation. Speakers could ;aot be chosen with certainty jit the time, "but one of those who has been- selected ,-is Mr. Holland, Mayor of Christchurch. .' Citizens and business men from other '/centres are urged to attend the'deputa- ■ tion, and to be at the Parliament and . Bowen _Street gates at 5.15 phn. ' At a public meeting, held in the Mas- " terton Municipal Hall' on Sunday night, at which about 250 persons were present, , a r&olution was carried protesting against ". the proposals contained in the Govorn- ' ment Liquor Bill.