A STRIKING VICTORY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3196, 21 September 1917, Page 4

A STRIKING VICTORY

The political tipsters and cardprickers had their calculations upset in a .quite surprising fashion yesterday when the Bill providing for tho early closing of hotels was under consideration in the House of Representatives. On all sides close voting on tho question of. tho hour of closing was predicted. Tho advocates of six o clock were hopeful but not over-confident of carrying that hour, nor were Ministers certain that eight o'clock, the hour fixed by their Bill, would secure a majority. As events proved, there was not the slightest ground for doubt or uncertainty. The tipstors were sadly astray. The Government's eight o'clock proposal was soundly beaten by 41 votes to 28, and six o'clock closing was carried by 44 votes to 26. This decisive victory, which cuts soven hours a day from the aooustomed hours for tho sale of liquor, is, we believe, in keeping with public sentiment on the question. While a great many people who are opposed in; principle to the sale of alcoholio liquors, and who would vote for total prohibition at any time, have been active? ly working for six o'olock closing, they constitute only a part of the very large body of citizens who favour this step as a war measure calculated to reduce waste,. promote economy, and increase national efficiency. It is clear from the voting that the promise of tho Prime Minister that members and would have a freo hand in casting their votes on the question has been honourably observed. Ministers voted for and against eight o'clock as the hour of closing, and when that proposal was defeated Mr. Massey himself moved to make the hour 6ix o'clock, while Sir Joseph Ward was amongst those who voted against it. This affords a very fair indication that members and Ministers alike exercised the fullest freedom to act as their individual judgment might dictate. Apart from the main issue now decided thore an two points which call for attention. The first of these is the proposal to distribute the loss entailed by the restriction of hours fairly and equitably between the owners of hotel property and tho licensees of tho hotels. Tho clause brought down by the Prime Minister with this object very properly met with sympathetic consideration _ from members so far as the principle was concerned, but it was made clear as the discussion developed that the method proposed of determining an equitable adjustment as between owner and licensee was open to objection. Mr. Massey promptly recognised this, and it is now proposed that the framing of a suitable clause to cover the matter shall bo left in the hands of the Statutes Revision Committed 1 of the Legislative Council.. The idea is that tho parties concerned, that is tho owners of hotel property, lessees and sub-lessees, shall bo given the opportunity of making suggestions, presumably through their legal advisers, in order that the position of tho various interested parties may be fully understood and as far as possible equitably adjusted. It is not an easy matter to frame _ a clauso which will meet all contingencies, and the view expressed by the member for Christchurch North, that the clause should be made as broad as possiblo and a liberal latitude allowed to tho tribunal appointed to arbitrate bctweon the interested parties,, is no doubt a sound

one. Tho other question that calls for attention is the sale of liquor for consumption off the premises. The closing of hotels at six o'clock is certain to lead to. a certain amount of sly and to lighten the task ot the police and minimise this ovil it is suggested that some restriction should be placed on the sale of liquor for consumption away from licensed premises. This is another difficult matter to legislate against successfully without placing unduo'restrictions on the legitimate sale to respectable citizens. So far as we can see, the most that can be done is to limit tho amount that any individual purchaser can scoure without a permit; and this it is obvious would not prevent any person from making frequent visits to different hotels and thus accumulating a substantial quantity of liquor for illicit sale. The Prime Minister; however, has undertaken to give the mattor consideration, and no doubt ho will consult the police and tho Crown Law Officers before coming to a decision.