EARLY CLOSING OF HOTELS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 282, 8 June 1917, Page 3

EARLY CLOSING OF HOTELS

COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION As the outcome of a letter gent by "the Pukekohe and District Committee for the six o'clock closing of hotel bars during the war and for six months thereafter in the interests of national efficiency and economy" a resolution in support of the movement was adopted by a majority at yesterday's meeting of the Franklin County Council. Cr Henry expressed himsalf as heartily in sympathy with the proposal, but he considered that hotelkeepers should be compensated for the time lost during the period they were asked to close, otherwise a great injustice to hotelkeepers would be created.

Cr Lyons mentioned that in a somewhat similar point the Auckland City Council had decided that the matter should not be discussed, as under a section of the Municipal Corporations Act where it was a question of morals and religion it was outside the jurisdiction of a Council. He contended that the present case was not a matter for a public body to take action in.

Cr Wilcox agreed with Cr Lyons. On Cr Lyons appealing to the Chairman for a ruling, Cr Flanagan did not consider it was wrong to discuss the question. Cr Henry urged that if the hotelkeepers' profits were taken away and their businesses closed from 6 o'clock it was only fair that they should receive compensation. Cr Woods was in favour of the early closing as he thought that all should bear the burden of the war, hotelkeepers included. He proposed that the Council should support the action of the Pukekohe District Committee. Cr Lockwood seconded. It could not, he said, be overlooked that the employees and Trade Unions were advocating its adoption. It would, he claimed, be a great gain to -the country. As farmers they had to bear the burdens of the war and he felt sure they would all be the better without drink. Cr Wilcox moved as an amendment that the Council should take no steps in the matter, but no seconder was forthcoming. Cr Henry proposed as an amendment that the Council should accord its support to six o'clock closing of hotels provided that hotelkeepers were reimbursed for loss entailed, but again there was no seconder. On Cr Woods' motion being put to the meeting, it was carried, the chairman and Crs Lockwood, Lyons and Woods voting " for" and Crs Wilcox, Henry and Higginson " against."

At the time of the discussion Cr Motion was absent from the meeting, he being in attendance at the sitting of the Franklin Licensing Committee.