LIQUOR REFERENDUM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 57, 12 June 1916, Page 6

LIQUOR REFERENDUM.

SIX O'CLOCK CARRIED. SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OVER ALL OTHER. [Unixbd Pbkss AMbooiatioh.) Sydney. June 12. From the figures available on the Liquor Referendum up to Saturday at midnight, when the counting stopped, six o'clock closing appears to be established, and has an unassailable mortgage over victory. The- city and suburban counts are practically completed and the majority of the country returns are incomplete, but the balance of them are substantially in favor of six o'clock closing. The latest figures available are:— Six o'clock ... 325,121 Nine o'clock ... 168,162 Majority in favor of six o'clock over all other hours, 127,361. PREMIER HOLMAN'S VIEWS. "BULLETS, NOT BOTTLES," WILL END THE WAR. (Received 10.10 a.m.) Sydney, June 12. Premier Holman, reviewing the vote, said that in his view, no lasting good would be secured by tinkering with the position by such methods as early closing, reduction, and other similar measures. The Government at next election would hold a referendum on the question of Nationalisation of the Liquor Traffic. The present decision of the people, would not aid in the prosecution of the war, which would be settled by bullets, hot bottles. . GOVERNMENT SCARIFIED. The Herald states that the referendum is a stunning blow to the Holman Government, which had shown itself sadly out of touch with the great body of electors. The vote was not the result of hysteria, but of sound common sense. "TEN O'CLOCK OR NOTHING!" (Received 9.25 a.m.) Sydney, May 12. While undoubtedly patriotism was the keynote of Saturday's vote, it ma> be regarded to some extent as the country's reply to Mr Holman's fam ous ukase, "ten o'clock, or nothing," which was uttered Avhen the Liquor Bill was before the Assembly. The Council cut it down to nine o'clock as the hour, which all parties had expressed their willingness to accept, but Mr Holman would have none of it. He said it made the Bill just a piece of waste paper, this statement rousing a simmer of resentment and criticism which undoubtedly assisted the reformers in their efforts. The result was beyond the expectation of the Moderates. The Alliance give a full mead ol praise to the work of influential parties outside the direct temperance movement, whose appeals were based on patriotism and war efficiency. The liquor interests anticipated a reverse in the city and suburbs, but expected to make up leeway in the country. Already there are lugubrious forecasts of wholesale ruin of publicans and of the disastrous effects on The Trade and social life.