EARLY CLOSING OF BARS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1917, Page 4

EARLY CLOSING OF BARS.

1111 'i 'imjpiui 'Hi EIGHT O'CLOCK CLQSINfc THE! NEW BILL. By Wire.—Our Parliamentary. Reporter* Wellington, Last Night. When the (Prime Minister moyed. for leave to introduce the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill in the House this afternoon; many members proceeded to discuss the subject without waiting to learn the details of the Government's proposals. Several forcible " speeches were made in support of the demand for six o'clock closing, but the debate drifted away into a discussion as to whether or not liquor was injurious to the labor, movement. Mr. Massey, who is something of a tactician, waited until the end of tha debate before he announced that the proposal in the Bill was that hotels should open at 9 aja. and close at 8 p.m. Chartered clubs were to be placed on the same footing as licensed houses, and, even Bellamy's wpuld observe the new hours. The Bill would be a majority measure, and every member of the House and the Government woul<J bo free to vote according to his oonvic-. tions. , 1 ' A member: What about a referendum? Mr. Massey: is no proposal in the Bill, and it is not intended to inqert it. He would consider the question ofi adjusting rates and rei>t% It was not proposed; to repeal the anti-ahouttns law, The new hpura would come into operation on the first day oi November; The Bill was introduced awf read ft' first time. The second reading will ba taken on Tuesday evening next, The! real struggle will come, of oqurae, when the Bill reaches committee, and toaetaberaare able to move amendments,