SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1917, Page 1

SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

DEPUTATION TO MR MASSEY

A MATTER FOR PARLIAMENT. (Per Pr ess A ssoeiat i on. —Copy ri gbt.) • Wellington, July 2 ( - A deputation, representing the New Zealand Alliance, interviewed tho Prime Minister to repeat its-re---quest that during the period of the war hotel bars he closed fro a 0 p.m. to S a.m.

The Rev R. S. Gray was the p»incipal speaker for the deputation. He said that petitions would be presented to the House signed by upwards of 120,000 people. Rt Hon W. F. Massey in reply, acknowledged the moderate language which the representatives had made. He could not say definitely that no poll would be takeu this year but it seemed probable that there would be no election. This would mean no poll, but if a general election became necessary a poll would be taken in the usual way. Their request for a special poll required a good deal of consideration.

In case there might be a misunderstanding about the soldiers lie said that he had seen a great deal of our soldiers in England during the last few months and could testify to their sobriety and good conduct. They were not all plaster saints, .but lie could say that in all that, time when he met them, thousands of them, ho never saw a New Zealand soldier inebriated and never saw one in the slightest degree affected by liquor.

The Chief of Police in London had told him that none of the Empire’s soldiers gave the police so little trouble, or behaved so well, as the New Zealand soldiers. This was something of which we all had reason to be proud. In regard to the request for early closing legislation he could say that the Government, was not going to shirk the question. Cabinet would have an opportunity of dealing with the question and until that had been done he could say nothing further. It would be for Parliament to deal with the question when tho\Rill came down.

In reply to a question Mr Massey said tliafc the Bill could not come down at once, but it would come down in duo course and would not be delayed until the dying hours of the session. He would not commit the Government to any measure providing for a referendum. His opinion, however, was that the elected representatives of the people should carry the responsibility.