SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1916, Page 4

SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

MEETING AT NEW PLYMOUTH. There was a fair attendance of citizens at the meeting held in Good Tempter Hall last night to advocate tihe six o'clock closing of hotel bars. Mr. C. H. Burgess (Mayor) presided, and there were also on the platform Messrs W. A. C'ollis and Cathro, Revs. A. H. Ooivile, A. B. Chappell and F. Ikies.

The Mayor, in his opening remarks, stated that on the previous evening he had received a telegram from ,l!ev. .John Dawson asking, 'Are you favorable to the closing of liquor bars at (i p.m.?" He had replied that, "as Mayor of New Plymouth, he held no political opinions." He was presiding at the present meeting simply as Mayor of New Plymouth, and if the opponents to the movement were to call a meeting of citizens, he considered that lie would be acting quite consistently in taking the chair at that meeting also.

Mr. W. A. Collis moved the first resolution—"That this meeting expresses its gratification that the Government has included a clause in the War Regulations Bill ';hat will make 'shouting' illegal.' He did so with pleasure, because primarily it had been moved in the interests of troopers and returned soldiers, who were too often the objects of mistaken kindness on the part of their numerous friends.

Rev. F. Hales, in seconding, did not think it would be difficult to convince any right-thinking man and woman fliat ''shouting," at any rate at the present time, was bad. Whether prohibitionist or moderate, wo must believe the idea in the mind the Government to be a right one. citizens of the Empire we were intent on winning the war, and must be prepared to make every sacrifice. We could al) do our best to help pass the War Regulation Bill, making it illegal to treat anyone during the progress of the war. The resolution was carried. Rev. A. H. Colvile then moved—"That this meeting deeply deplores the failure of the National Government to order the early closing ,of hotel bars, as a war measure; and now calls on the Government to carry through at m such legislation as is needed to close bars from fi p.m. to 8 a.m., or, failing Luat, to take a referendum thereon forthwith." In supporting the motion, Mr. Colvile said it was not a matter for the Church, but for the State; not for the ministers of any denomination, but for the whole body of the people, who had a right to expect a definite lead from the Government. The Government should not have to be pushed in the matter. They had a right to expect courage from the National Government at a time like this and in a matter like this. and they deplored the failure of the Government to take advantage of a great opportunity to enact what should prove a wise piece of legislation in the interests not only of the soldiers but of the whole community. As a moderate, he wished to deny emphatically the allegation made by a deputation to the Premier recently that a law such as the resolution asked for was a parrot cry of the prohibitionist. It was the reasoned demand of moderate thinkers. The Moderate League did not represent the opinion of the moderate meu in this country. He was not actuated by hostility to the trade or to those earning their living by it, many of whom were as good citizens as the most rigid prohibitionists, but lie recognised that it was dangerous to let a dangerous trade, at a dangerous time, have dangerous control over the lives of our citizens. These were unusual circumstances, and must be dealt with in an unusual way. T f the law induced hotelkeepers to concentrate less on the bar and more on the comfort and convenience of the guests, the gain would be considerable. The proposal was for a definite time and for a definite purpose, and he thought that the trade would be wise to accept it, if for no other reason than that at next election they could point to a sacrifice cheerfully made for their country at a critical time. The law >vould not restrict the liberty of the soldier, and he urged them to support soldiers' clnlis, where there would not be too many restrictions. Every man who supported the resolution was doing his duty as a true patriot.

Mr. Cathro said that, as a representative of Labor, he was pleased to second the resolution.

Mr. 1). .1. Hughes would not support .the resolution unless some provision was made for compensating licensees. He strongly favored national control of the drink traffic.

Hev. Chappell also supported the motion, which was carried. On the motion of the Rev Chappell and Mr. Cocker, it was decided to forward copies of the resolutions to the iPrime Minister and the member for the district.

A vote of thanks to the chairman ter minated the meeting.

THE CASE OF CLUES.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Wellington, Yesterday. Another phase of the six o'clock closing question was put before the Prime Minister to-day by a deputation representing chartered Clubs, which asked that if a restriction of hours >vere decided upon it should not apply to Clubs. The deputation represented about thirty Clubs in the North Island and Chris'tchurch. Tho Clubs had a membership of over 20,000, and had capital invested in Club premises, libraries, etc., of between £300,000 and £400,00' I. if it could be shown, said a member of the deputation, that any military necessity existed for closing hotels and clubs no'opposition would be offered, but the deputation did uot admit that there was any such necessity. Mr. Massey, in reply, said that if ordinary licensed houses were compelled to close their bars at a certain hour, iie was confident that Parliament would make the law apply to bars in Clubs, even Bellamy's would come under the rale. He was pleased to hear what the deputation had to say, and would |!«w the representations before Cabinet.