THE EARLY CLOSING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1739, 24 July 1917, Page 3

THE EARLY CLOSING.

PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY TO TRADE OFFER. Replying-to the licensing trade deputation on Saturday, which offered to agrge (1) to trading from 8 a.m. to 9 (mu. for the period of the war and six months after, (2) without seeking compensation, (3) 23roviding the anti-shouting regulations are repealed, the Prime Minister said he took it that the principal object of the deputation was to state the position from the Trade’s point of view, and he was of opinion that it was only right they should ■ have that opportunity. The deputation had put forward its views clearly and moderately, showing that there were two sides to the question, and those views would be considered by Cabinet and by Parliament. He believed that Parliament would, in the not far distant future, have to reconsider the whole of the licensing question" so as to got rid of this continual unrest and agitation.” New Zealand was not the only country where they had the same unrest. He noticed the same thing in England—not, perhaps, to the same extent —and it had been going on in Canada, Australia and the United States. Just recently a British Parliamentary Committee had been going info (he whole question and taking evidence, and it had reported that in its opinion State control or State ownershij) would bo the solution of the difficulty. He did not know what the British Parliament would do, but the opinion in England in favour of State ownership was growing when he was there. Personally, he was not sure that he-was exactly in love with State ownership, hut if it was going to bo a remedy for the difficulty, we would have lo consider it. “Tbe question has not been considered by Cabinet, bill I do say dial: (bis agitation (hat goes on is not in the best interest of the body politic, and the public men of (bo country will have to find a remedy one way or - Ibe other,” he added. Mr Massey added that tbe petitions on tbe subject bad been j’eforrcd direct to the Government, and would be considered before legislation was sibmitted. He could only tell them that the proposals would be given a straight run in Parliament. It was not a party question. Licensing matters bad never been considered a party question. Tin* party in ]}ower never insisted on its supporters taking one side! or the other, and the National Government took up the same attitude. Personally he hoped that Parliament would be able to do something which would satisfy tbe great bulk of tbe public, and (bat things would go on smoothly until the next General Election, when the licensing poll would he taken and the people be given an opportunity of expressing their oioinion.