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Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1918, Page 2

I'hk effect of some of the recent hasty legislation of Parliament is making itself felt already. The poor man’s recreation in many a city and town in the Dominion is assailed ,and not only is the cost going up } but there is a I restrictipn of hours, iwhich indicate if the people are not more wide awake the liquor trade is not the only factor in the enjoyment- of life to be brought under the ban of prohibition or pro iiibitory legislation. A clause in the Public Health Amendment Act, which was rushed through Parliament on the evening of its rising has caused the ownjers of picture theatres in Wellington and other large centres much concern. This clause makes it illegal for picture houses to be open except during the hours of 2 to 5 in the afternoon, and 7 to 10 in the evening. The continuous theatros, which are the chief picture houses in these days, and in which a large amount of capital has been sunk, are those which will bo the , most severely hit, for the effect of the change will be that they will be limited to two programmes in the afternoon and two at night. Few will come into the theatres after 3.30. in the afternoon for patrons will know that this is the last hour at which they can enter hoping to see a full programme. In the same day at night few will enter after 8.30. This will mean reduced business, and to make up for the loss the proprietors of these houses in Wellington, have I decided to put up tlie charges to 9d. downsrtatrs and Is. upstairs during the afternoon and Is. downstairs and 1/G upstairs during the evening. The new scale of hours and charges came into operation last Saturday. A deputation representing the picture interests waited on the Minister of Public Health on the matter. The questions raised, however are not such as can be dealt with by a jMinister. Those hours are not fixed by regulation but by the Statute and they must remain in

operation until the law is amended. All that tho Minister can do is to consider tho wisdom or otherwise of amending the law. Perhaps the public will wake up and help the Minister to come to a decision. The suggestion of the Commonwealth Government that the Imperial authorities should send a naval squadron and some captured German ships to Australia on the occasion of the peace celebrations is a capital one. Our Government if it has not already donp so, should hasten to second the invitation sent. The glorious part the navy has played in the war and its wonderful acliici •-■- ment in keeping tho st ‘ a routes open are nowhere better appreciated than m New Zealand the most distant of the British Dominions. Fighting ships sent to the country to join in tho peace (celebrations would bo assured of a royal wolcome, whether or not. they brought a German submarine or two in convoy. No practical difficulty is likely to arise for the squadrons detailed to visit this Dominion and others need not be large bo long as they were comp.osed of representatives types A fighting ships. Such an opportunity of bringing the people into touch witn the British Navy to which they owe so much ought not to bo allowed to pass. If the project comes to pass, as it probably will, we hope that the smaller centres where the big ships cannot be brought, will not be denied a Bight of the lads in Navy blue. Naval contingents might be allowed to visit some of the more of the remote places and because the lions of the occasion All want to honour the Jack Tars, and if a few representatives were allowed to come this way West Coast hospitality would overflow. We owe so much -o the Britisli Navy that nothing which could be said or done can express our gratitude in full, but meeting some of the men in a personal way and doing them proud would at least be an opportunity to ventilate some of our feelings towards those splendid fellows who made victory so sure and complete.