EARLY CLOSING THROWN OUT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1592, 29 July 1916, Page 3

EARLY CLOSING THROWN OUT.

A CLOSE DIVISION,

ANTI-SHOUTING CARRIED,

The Anti-Shouting Clause was carried by 56 votes to 15. Air Wilkinson moved a new clause to provide for 8 o’clock hours in hotels, with a provision that if a license is prejudiced by the reduction of hours he may appeal to a magistrate for a reduction of rent or a modification of the covenants of lease, the magistrate’s decision to be final. The House divided and Hie amendment was lost by 29 to 42.

Air Wilford moved an amendment that the hotels be opened at 9 a.m. —Defeated by 38 to 32.

Mr Ell moved for 9 o’clock closing. This was defeated by 36 votes to 35. The division was as follows ;

Against. 9 o’clock closing (36) : Bollard, Brown, Buick, Coates, Colvin, Dickie, J. S. Dickson, AV. H. Field, Fletcher, Fraser, Glover, Guthrie, Henare, Herdman, Homes, Jennings, McCallum, Macdonald, Massey, Myers, Nosworthy, Parata, Payne, Pomare, 11. H. Rhodes, T. AA T . Rhodes, Russell, Scott, Smith, Statbam, Stewart, Thacker, Veitch, AVard, Webb, Witty. For 9 o’clock (35) : Allen, Anderson, Anstey, Buddo, Craigic, M. Dickson, Ell, Field (Nelson), Forbes, Hannan, Harris, Hindmarsh, Hornsby, Hunter, Hudson, Isitt, jAPCombs, McNab, Mander, Newman, Dr Newman, Ngata, Okey, Pearce, Poland, Poole, Sidey, Sykes, Talbot, Thompson, AValker, AVilford, AA r ilkinson, AVright, Young.

Mr Anderson moved (bat a referendum bo taken as au indication to the Government of public, feeling. Thcmotion was lost by 44 to 26. Mr AVilford moved that holds open at 8 a.m. The motion was lost.

Siv .Joseph 'Will’d Pit id lie hud to make an explanation which was dm 1 to his colleagues. He had been concerned in licensing legislation since 1887, and knew that no reform could be carried without the good will of both sides. In conversation with a gentleman holding a high position in (he temperance movement he understood him to say that his friends did not want early (dosing if they could get “shouting” stopped, 'fids he conveyed to the Premier, and, as a result of enquiries made by both, the anti-shouting clause was inserted. As to his own position, Sir Joseph Ward said his constituents gave him a. definite mandate on the question last election. Ho would not break faith. He stood bv the Bill.

Mr Isitt disclosed the fact that he was the “prominent gentleman” referred to. He had a conversation with Sir Joseph Ward, but it was his painful duty to differ from him as to its effect. He certainly had not wished to convey the impression that the temperance party would be satisfied to abandon the hope of early closing if anti-shouting were carried. Mr Massey corroborated Sir Joseph Ward’s statement as to the origin of the clause. THE REFERENDUM PROPOSAL REJECTED. THE DIVISION LIST. Mr Anderson moved a new clause empowering the Government to name a day for the taking of a referendum of the people on the question.

Mr Wilford raised a point of order, and said that a clause to take a referendum would be an appropriation clause which a private member could not move.

The Chairman (Mr Malcolm), after perusing the clause, said that it did not provide for taking a referendum, but only for naming a day, and as such was not an appropriation clause, and therefore permissible.

Mr Wilford then pointed out that this was not a genuine opportunity for voting on the referendum. The real purpose of the amendment was lo place members in an awkward position, and in some cases members would ask the public to believe that the member had voted against the referendum when he was really in favour of it.

Messrs Himlmarsh, M’Comhs and Wright took part in the debate, supporting the referendum proposal.

Mr Anderson said he intended to insist on going to a vote. Mr Isitl, speaking for the second time in the evening, made a strong appeal for the referendum. He was quite sure that if the people had the chance of expressing their opinion on this matter they would snow the Trade under three times over. As it was they now had the spectacle of the National Government standing as a buttress between the Trade and the people. Voices: Don’t get angry. Mr Vigor Brown: Take your licking like a sport. Mr Isitt: I am not angry, but I speak with a, great deal of feeling on this mater, because I feel that it is essential for the welfare of the Empire as a whole. Tic hoped the amendment would lie carried, and appealed to those in favour of taking a referendum to vote for it. After further debate, the new danse was put to the vote and defeated by 44 to 2(5. The division lists read: —

For the clause (26) : Anderson, Anstey, Buddo, Craigie, J. M’C. Dickson, Ell, T. A. 11. Field, Harris, Hindmarsh, Hunter, Isitt, M’Combs, Mender, Dr. A. K. Newman, E. Newman, Ngata, Okey, Poland, Poole, Sidey, Sykes, Talbot, Walker, Wilkinson, Wright, Young. Against the clause (44) : Allen, Bollard, Brown, Buick, Coates, Colvin, Dickie, J. S. Dickson, W. H. Field, Fletcher, Forbes, Fraser, Glover, Guthrie, Hunan, Hcrdman, Herries, Hornsby, Hudson, Jennings, M’Callum, MacDonald, McNab, Massey, Myers, Nosworthy, Parata, Payne, Pearce, Pomare, 11. H. Rhodes, Russell, Scott, Smith, Statham, IV. Stewart, Thacker, Thomson, Vcitch, Y ard, AVebb, Ah 1 lord, AA itty.