RISE IN REBELLION.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1917, Page 4

RISE IN REBELLION.

HON. HERDMAN AND THIS SIX O'CLOCKERS. By Wire.-t-Our Parliamentary Shorter. Wellington, Last Night. When the debate on the second reading of the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill was resumed this afternoon, toe At-torney-General (Mr. Herdman) made an uncompromising attack on all early closers. Ho said that he would vote for the retention of, ten o'clock, if opportunity offered. It was a piece of impertinence for a section of the community to say to other people: "You are not fit to be trusted with alcoholic liquor, and you shall not buy any of it after six o'clock!" The proposal was to keep hotel bars open while,men were at work, thus encouraging them to have their drinks then, and to close the bars as soon as the men finished work, and wanted relaxation. He regarded this interference with the freedom of the individual as simply intolerable, and he would say that the time had come in New Zealand for reasonable Rnd liberty-loving people to rise in rebellion.

Members: A Red Fed! (Laughter). Mr. Webb (Grey): That's what I got three months for.

Mr. Herdman: I say that the time has come for a liberty-lovinp and reasonable people to rise in rebellion against the despotic section that is trying to interfere with our freedom. Ever, since the war began, the prohibitionists have been endeavoring to make use of the war for the purpose of consummating their political aspirations.