EARLY CLOSING OF BARS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1917, Page 5

EARLY CLOSING OF BARS.

ALTERATIONS IN THE BILL.

By Wire—Our Parliamentary Reporter Wellington, Last Night. Tho Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill will again come up for consideration during the present week. Important alterations have been mads in the Bill by the Legislative Council, and some of these may not be acceptable to the House of Representatives. If the House is "not satisfied with the Count's amendments it will signify Us disagreement, and'then each House will appoint managers ta dis«tss the points in dispute. SoiHe members are of opinion that the Bill as ■amended has been made too rigid and too stringent, and that it would cause unnecessary inconvenience to the travelling public. It would practically mean , the closing up of the entire hotel business at 0 p.m. ' The strange thing is j that, the demand for greater elastteity comes mainly from the temperance side, while the advocates of rigid cfosing'are found among those outnido the prohibition ranks. One side contends that Only ■the public bars should be closed at six o'clock-, while the other side insists that no alcoholic liquor whatever should be , sold except to boarders after that hour. I It is hinted that the Trade is onueavorjing to make the new law as unworkable and ;is unpopular as possible, in the hope of ensuring its repeal, or at any rate of discouraging further oxporiments in liquor legislation. It is understood that the matter is at present receiving tho attention u- the Government, and that the <!oU'rnmei;l is not prepared to accept all tho amendments made by the Council.