WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

METHODISTS AND LIQUOR TRADE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) » Wellington, Feb. 27. A strong appeal for the early closing of hotel? and for a reduction in racing «ac made by a deputation from the Methodist Conference, which waited upon the acting-Prime Minister (Hon. Sir -las. Alien) fhis afternoon The deputation wa-; introduced by the Rev. John Daw--n!!. who. s.iid that it represented the lull strength of the Methodist Church in New Zealand. The Rev. W. J. William? said there was one sentiment throughout the Church with regard to the liquor, traffic. 'Methodists th,light that the opportunities for drinking ought to be curtailed in war time, and they regretted exceedingly that New Zealand should be the "nly part of the British Umpire to refrain from strong action in that direction. Tliey ¥ asked for early closing on economic, moral, and physical grounds, and in the interests of the Dominion's manhood and womanhood. They felt keenly, too, on the subject of racing. They did not think it fitting that while thousands of New Zealand's best sons were fighting and shedding tlieir blood at the front, the number of race meet'ngs should actually be increased. The deputation asked that the Government ■hould reduce the number of race nieetngs. Actien in that direction would ave money and assist recruiting, sinco ■r-any hundreds of eligible men were be ing kept in New Zealand by the lure of 'he racecourses. Mr. E. 11. Bennett and the Rev. Robert l-laddon supported Mr. Williams. Mr. Dawson said that the public hear'! from time to time of troubles that had been caused in the camps by drink. A •"duction in the amount of drinking would mean fewer accidents and in creased efficiency; it would mean thai fewer soldiers would have to be sent to Port Chalmers, and that fewer men would have to bo taken out oi the firing line, where they are urgently required Sir James Allen said he supposed the members of the deputa'ion realised that t was very difficult for the Cabinet to leal with the liquor question in the absence of the Prime Minister and Sii Joseph Ward. The representations that had been made by the deputation would be placed before Cabinet at the earliest opportunity. "You know that the liquor question was placed before Parliament last, session,'' said the aeting-'Primo Minister. "An opportunity was given Parliament to decide whether tlicra should be any reduction in the hours of Bale of liquor, and Parliament decided that there should not be. I am entirely in sympathy with you in your desires to protect our soldiers from the eonso quenees of over indulgence in liquor, and from the indirect consequence to which Mr. Dawson has alluded. We have done what we could, in view of the decision of Parliament, to influence the young men in camp to exercise restraint in regard to liquor. We prohibit liquor in the camps altogether, we prohibit it in the military trains, and we have adopted anti-shouting regulations. A great deal has been done, though I am not pre pared to say that wc liave done all that we could do or all that we should do.

"With regard to the racing question, I am in a position to give a somewhat more favorable answer. We are not in a position to deal with this year's racing permits, but the matter will come up for the consideration of Cabinet within thu next month or two in 'connection witl next season's permits. I am under the impression that there will then be some limitation of totalisator permits. As far as I am concerned I shall be very glad to see them limited. Ido not thin!,' that any sensible man wants to abolish all the legitimate pleasures of the peopleeven in war time. The legitimate pleasures are serving a useful purpose, and so long as racing- is- kept within reasomiblo limits and is kept clean, I do not see any objection to its continuance. But I do want as soldiers a good many of the young men who are engaged in racing. I think they will be better engage*! serving their country in the army than running the racing stables. I intend to get them if I can." The deputation thanked the Minister for his ropiy. RESTRICTED IMPORTS. Wellington, Feb. 17. New Zealand housewives are going to suffer a certain amount of inconvenience owing to the prohibition of- the export of foodstuffs from the United Kingdom. It is not known xet how strictly the prohibition is being enforced, that is, to what extent the system of licenses will operate, but- advices already received in Wellington indicate that many standard articles will be unobtainable in this country when existing stocks have been exhausted. Already some advances in prices are reported. It is apparently the intention of the British Government to disallow the export of tinned and preserved fish of all kinds. Supplies have been curtailed for sonje time past. The new order may mean the temporary disappearance from the local market of some popular line 3 of tinned herrings and other fish. On the other hand, salmon vill be particularly plentiful,, since tlit -Sriiish, Govern.-'