SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1916, Page 2

SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

CARRIED IN NEW SOUTH WALES. BY A GREAT MAJORITY. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, June 10. The final rallies in connection with the liquor referendum strongly indicate that both sides regard the issue as of vital interest. The cleavage of. parties is widely different to what it has been in previous no-license campaigns. The fact is that the referendum is being regarded in many quarters as a temporary war efficiency measure, and is receiving support from influential sources outside temperance bodies. For that reason it is expected to swing a big vote. Then, too, women are taking a much more prominent part in the campaign than heretofore, and it is certain that they will poll unusually heavily. The advocates of six o'clock closing are convinced themselves that these factors, combined with the direct temperance vote, are sufficient to secure a victory. The liquor party are equally confident that the supporters of moderate limits to drinking hours will be found in the majority. ' They are relying on a large •silent t'Ote and those who believe that the curtailment of hours will spell an increase in home drinking and sly grog selling, also the big section of shop and office employees who are accustomed to a refresher on leaving work at six, and who would be robbed of the opportunity of getting their nightly glass. So far as can be gauged, independent of party leanings, the preponderance of public and press opinion appears to expect that if six o'clock fails the verdict will be somewhere inside nine o'clock.

Sydney, June 11. From the figures available on the liquor referendum, up to Saturday at midnight, when the count stopped, six o'clock closing appears to be established and has an unassailable mortgage* on victory. The city and suburban counts are practically complete. The majority of the country returns are incomplete, but the balance of them substantially favpur six o'clock closing. The latest totals show that 303,878 primary votes were cast for six o'clock closing, ! 155,879 for nine o'clock, the other four hours from seven to eleven inclusive, scoring together 27,453 votes. This gives six o'clock closing a majority of 117,946 over all the other combined votes.

Sydney, Later. The early closing poll proceeded smoothly and was completed with the absence of excitement or incident.

The weather was fine and the polling heavy. The campaign was largely wanting in the usual humorous elements, and it really was a political fight. Both sides were in dead earnest, and worked strenuously.

As anticipated, the women polled very strongly, though the Alliance leaders declare that they failed to come up to expectations. They claim that the result was largely due to the patriotic men's vote.

The secretary of the Liquor Defence Union refuses to admit that the vote was a fair indication of public opinion. It was taken under abnormal conditions at a time of hysteria. •Sydney, Juno U. Latest figures show: For six o'clock closing 325,121-; for nine o'clock, MiS,IG2; majority for six o'clock over all other hours, 127,301. STUNNING BLOW TO' THE GOVERNMENT. Sydney, June 12. Mr._ Holman, reviewing the vote,- said that in his view no lasting- pood would he secured oy tinkering with the position by means of such methods as early closing, reduction, and other similar measures. The Government at the next election would hold a referendum on the question of the nationalisation of the liquor traffic. - The present decision of the people would not aid in the prosecution of war, which would be settled by bullets, not bottles. The Herald states that the referendum is a-stunning blow to the Holman Government, which lias shown itself sadly out of touch with the great body of the electors. The vote was not the result of hysteria, but of sound <commonsense.

While undoubtedly patriotism was the keynote of Saturday's vote, it may be regarded to some extent as the country's reply to Mr. Holman's famous ukase, "Ten o'clock or nothing," uttered when the Liquor "Bill was before the Assembly. The Council cut it down to 0 o'clock, as the hour which all parties expressed their willingness to accept. Mr. Holnian would have none of it, and made the Bill waste paper, rousing a simmer of resentment and criticism which undoubtedly assisted the reformers' efforts.

The result was beyond the expectations of the Moderates. The Alliance gives its full mead of praise to the work of influential parties outside thi direct temperance movement, whose appeals -were based on patriotism and war efficiency. The liquoi interests anticipated a reverse in.the eity and suburbs, but expected to make up leeway in'the country.. Already there are lugubrious forecasts of .he wholesale ruin of publicans and disastrous effects on trade and social life.