SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1917, Page 2

SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

SIR J. FINDLAY'S VIEWS. ■Hastings!, June 10. Replying at great length to a big deputation, armed with a petition bearing 3000 names, urging six o'clock closing, Sir John Findlay wholly committed himself to give the strongest support to the curtailment of the hours for the selling of liquor. Stating his attitude towards the licensing question generally, Sir John said that he favored a 5.5 per cent, majority, but the times were abnormal and after most serious thought and consultation with those best able to give reliable information, and after using his observation as diligently as possible he had definitely come to the conclusion that hotel bars should bo closed at six o'clock in the interest of public 'Welfare and national efficiency during this great struggle. He said that the courageous example of Great Britain wfts surely one that was of the necessity for New Zealand taking drastic steps, and also quoted the example set 'by the Australian States. He stated that the chief obstacle was the attitude of the present Government towards six o'clock closing, as (V'losed by the Ministers' voting when .io proposal to shorten the hours was before the House last year. "If," he said, "the will of the people by an immense majority demands six o'cloaing, Cabinet is bound not to resist that will, and if it cannot see its way to give legislative expression to it, its proper duty is to give place to a Ministry which can." Referring to compensation by tho State, Sir John Findlay said this was out of the question, but he thought the loss should be fairly divided between licensee and landlord in the way of readjustment of rent. Ho would make no distinction between clubs and hotels and would support six o'clock legislation with all the persistency and ability at his command.