SIX O’CLOCK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1733, 22 September 1917, Page 3

SIX O’CLOCK.

CLOSING HOUR OF HOTELS. GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL DEFEATED. PRIME MINISTER MOVES AMENDMENT. ANTI-TREATING TO REMAIN. Drastic reforms to the liquor legislation of the Dominion were made in the House of Representatives on Thursday, A sensational feature was that, instead of a fierce fight in Committee on the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill, no less than three divisions on most vital questions relating to the Trade took place in two hours. There was a large majority in favour of C o’clock, and that hour will now become the law of, the land on and after Ist November next, unless an amendment is made by the Legislative Council. This, however, is regarded as a most remote contingency. A proposal to repeal the anti-treating, or, as it is popularly called, the “anti-shouting,” regulation was decisively defeated on a division being called for. 41 AGAINST 28, When the Bill was being considered in Committee, Mr G, J. Anderson moved to strike out the word “eight,” fixed as (lie hour for closing of hotel bars, with (he view of putting in another hour. There was no debate, and the Committee went for a devision at once, the result being:— For 8 o’clock closing 28, against S o’clock 41. The division list was; For 8 o’clock, 28. Against, 41. Bollard Allen Brown Anderson Buick Ansley Carroll Buddo Colvin Craigie Dickson J. S. Dickie Field, W, H. Dickson, J. M’C. Fletcher Ell Fraser Field, T. A. IT. Glover Forbes Ilenarc Guthrie Hcrdman Han an Herrics Harris Hudson Hindmarsh M’Callum Hornsby MacDonald Hunter Massey Isllt Myers Lee Parata M’Combs Payne Mandcr Pomare Newman, Dr. Reed Newman, E. Rhodes, T. W. Noswortby Scott Parr Smith, R. W. Pearce Thacker Poland Ward' Poole Witty Rhodes, E. H. Russell Sidey Smith, G. 11. 1 ' Statham Sykes Talbot Thomson Vcitch Walker Wilkinson Wright Young Web!) Pairs; Jennings Findlay PRIME MINISTER PROPOSES SIX O’CLOCK. The Prime Minister staled ho would now propose to insert 6 o’clock closing in the place of 8 (Loud applause). He hoped that such a result would put an end to the unrest that had been in existence for some time, lie was firmly impressed with the idea that (he country would have to bo given the chance of expressing an opinion on the subject of Continuance or Prohibition, ami perhaps with compensation, Thai matter was now under the cons'deration of Cabinet. Sir Joseph Ward said that, as, Minister of Finance, he considered it necessary that the question should be sel l lad during iho next six months. Tin- finance of the country would be disarranged, and it was no good saying that such a change as was proposed would result in making up the revenue that, would be lost. Th.'i’c was an imperative need for the people to give a vote on the quest i n of prohibition or no prohibition, so as to give Parliament the opportunity of saying in which direction the necessary taxation should be imposed. The revenue must be nut on a satisfactory basis. The country must be responsible for any change effected, and make arrangements for the change that might bo involved. AMENDMEN T CARRIED BY BIG MAJORITY. After a brief discussion, the question as to whether the hour of closing should be (i o’clock or some other was put to the vote. It was evident that all sections of the House desired to have the question settled, and the fact that the discussion collapsed so quickly was the subject of congratulatory comment in various political quarters. The voting was as under; —For 6 o’clock, 44; against 0 o’clock, 2G. The division list was; —: For G o’clock, 44. Against, 26. Allen Bollard Anderson Brown Austey Buick Buddo Carroll Craigie Colvin Dickson, J. M. Dickie Dickson, J. S. Fletcher Ell Forbes Field, T. A. 11. Glover Field, W. H. Henare Fraser Herdman Guthrie Henries Ha nan Hudson Harris M’Callum Hindmarsh MacDonald jiornsby Paratg

Hunter Payne Isitt Pomare Lee Reed M’Combs Scott Mander Smith, R. W. Massey Statham Myers Thacker Newman, Dr. Ward Newman, E. Webb Noswortby Witty Okey Parr Pearce Poland ' Poole Rhodes, R. H. - Rhodes, T. W. Russell A Sidey Smith' Smith, G. H. ; Sykes Talbot Thomson Vcitch Walker Wilkinson Wright Young Pairs: Findlay Jennings Mr C. A. Wilkinson moved an amendment to provide that the hours fixed by the vote just taken should remain in force until a vote of the people had been taken (instead of for six months after the end of the war). The Prime Minister said he could not accept the amendment. What had been done already would represent a great deal of inconvenience to people, especially in country districts. As the Bill stood at present, no drover or traveller could be on licensed promises after G p.m. Ho would move an amendment later on. ANTI- SHOUTING DIVISION. The following is the result of the voting on the amendment to repeal the anti-shonting law: — For Anti-Shouting, 47. Against, 21. Allen Brown Anderson Buick Anstey Carroll Bollard Colvin Buddo Dickson, J. S. Craigie Fletcher Dickie Forbes Dickson, J.M. Glover Ell Hcrdman Field, T. A. 11. Herries Field, W. IT. Hornsby Guthrie M’Callum Harris MacDonald Henare Parata Hindmarsh Payne Hudson Pearce Hunter Thacker Isitt Veiteh Lee Ward M’Combs Webb Mander Witty Massey Myers Newman, Dr. Newman, E. Noswortby Okoy Parr Poland Pomare Poole Reed Rhodes, R. H. Rhodes, T. W. Russell Scolt Sidey Smith, G. H. Smith, R. W. Statham Sykes Talbot Thomson Walker Wilkinson Wright Young The Prime Minister moved a provision for redaction of rents of licensed premises, which was carried on the understanding that the Statutes Revision Committee would deal with it when the Bill is before the Legislative Council.