SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 64, 10 December 1918, Page 6

SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING

Sir,—Your correspondent, William Burr, in Saturday's Dominion - , professes great concern lest our Parliament, in making six" o'clock closing for hotel bars a permanent measure, is committing a broach of faith, and he goes on to charge members with breaking their word. I am well aware that our politicians have enough sins to answer for, but in this case I think they are quite free from blame. Imagine, if you can, what would bo thought of. any Temperance man voting against such ' a proposal! But what are the facts? The New Zealand Parliament last year, in response to an overwhelming and imperative demand by the people, decided on six o'clock closing, which was to continue until six months after the end of the war. But in so deciding Parliament did not agree or bind itself never to amend or again review .the Licensing Act. And surely Parliament—recognising the benefits and desirability of early closing— has tho right to review or perpetuate any measure that in the first instance was introduced as a temporary enactment. This is exactly what Parliament has done in the present case. It has considered the interests of a million pcoplo before that of some thirteen hundred liquor sellers.—l am, etc., ■ ETA.