Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY SEPT. 21st 1917. LIMITATION OF HOURS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY SEPT. 21st 1917. LIMITATION OF HOURS.

Tuk fact that the Hotel Hours Bill passed the Second Reading in the House without a division seems to supply something like a clue to the ultimate fate of the measure. The Premier in his introductory speech gave, members and Ministers alike a free hand

in voting, indicating that for the occasion all party tics were severed. This did not indicate, that the Government were unanimous upon the provisions uf the bill, and the apparent division suggests that after all there are more sides than one to the actual necessity lor the measure at this stage. If wo take it as a win-the-war measure can we hope that the curtailment of the hours, or even the very prohibition of' lipuor itself, will make better soldiers of our men. Could Are expect any finer result* than from the raw material who stormed tile heights of Gallipoli. Could we get steadier and braver soldiers than those who fought at the battle of Somme and so gallantly carried the Switch !*ine —the Germans stronghold—and captured Piers; Gould we get a more gallantly executed

t&sfc than the conquest- of Messne* ! Ridge, following the splendid burrowing of our Tunnellors. We; doubt it j We aro in fact, a sober nation, the modulation of which lias produced the sup-er-soldier when deeds were de-mandod. Then there is another win-tho-war aspects New Zealand is now spending 1 millions a month, and must keep up the flow of money to reach and hold tho goal °f victory. Money lias got 'to he found. This year wo aro borrowing twenty four millions. Noxt year it ! will be necessary to borrow not less j than thirty-two millions, and perhaps more after that. This money has to | lie paid for while being used, and in the long run repaid to the lenders. I Can the country afford to throw away sources of revenue at this stage. The Minister of Finance was very definite on this point when dealing with the i taxation proposals, yet if 8 o’clock clos ing bo carried it is going to mean tho loss of £300,C00 to tile exchequer, or, if it he six o’clock, then a loss of half j a million. These are only the national figures. What of the loss to local authorities and to the. nooplo theniRo’ves. The latter already hold “a scrap of paper” licensing thorn to trade till 10 o’clock, and the country is being asked to tear up this pledge without any suggestion of compensation. 'l’ll,is is not honest, to put it bluntly. Then t-hore is the talk of efficiency anil economy, hut here we get hack to the point referred to at the outset, the excellence. of our soldiers, and the general demeanour of our men. The country is not drink-sodden, nor in a condition of drunken dehauohtyy. In moderation it pursues a course of living which has helped New Zealand to enjoy the reputation it does for sobriety. Nor dot's it waste its substance in drink. The hank returns evidences the thrift of the people, and the recent flow of millions to provide for the war loan showed that the' substance was wellspread over the people. The cry for early closing is an unreasonable one, not supported by present or past con-

ditions, and until these necessitate the change of which the National Government should bo the judge, matters affecting hotel hours might well bo left as they aro.