SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3117, 22 June 1917, Page 6

SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER

CONCERNING ILLICIT TRADE

PROPOSALS FOR SUPPRESSION

In accordance with the resolution passed at the meeting com-ened i>y the Jlnvnr and held in tho Town Mall "sumo weeks "go, .■> deputation from that meeting waited upon the Acting-Prime .Ministei(Sir Janus Allen) yesterday to urge that tho Government should this session bring down and support legislation to provide for tho closing of hotel burs nt li o'clock p.m.

'Hie Mayor of Wellington (Mr. .T. V. Luke), introducing the deputation, hand. 0(1 h> the .Minister a copy of the resolution which the meeting had carried, lie said that the deputation had come to tlio jM'jnUlpr In impress upon him tho importance of Ihe resolution, which had been carried by a very largo meeting, lie h:ul convened the meeting at the re<|iicst of a number of citizens who had Iho interests of the public at heart. It was not in any sense a sectional meeting. It represented u practically united opinion of the business eonununity of the city nnd also the opinion of a very large number of the citizens generally. It was within their knowledge that the Minister had other representations made to him on the matter, but the deputation wished again to stress the importance of bringing in legislation without delay to provide that hotels should be closed for tho sale of liquor between the hours of G p.m. and 8 a.m. These were practically the ordinary business hours, and he felt that they were on. good ground in waking such a request. Ho made no apology ior being present as Mayor of tho city. It would have been quite possible for him to have taken a neutral attitude on this question, but he had given'a definite expression of opinion on it, and he still held to that opinion—that it was the duty of the citizens to band together to urge tho Government to take such steps as might lio necessary to restrict the drinking habits of certain sections of the population. Tho deputation did not say that soldiera were to have less privileges than the civilian population. Prevention of Waste Imperative. Although it could not l>o said that there was tho slightest doubt that the Allies would win the irar decisively, it must be apparent that the United Kingdom could not keep i;p expenditure* at the ruto of eight millions a day without the ellect of this tremendous expenditure being felt by all communities even in remote corners of the world at tho end of tho war. It was therefore the duly of good citizens to do everything possible to prevent wasto and to conserve the financial resources of the Empire. So he held that if the drinking habits of the people could be reduced a service would be rendered not only to the country but to the Empire.

Appeal for Ministry's Support. Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., eaid that last year there had been a, great: and widespread movement in,favour of legislation to decrease drinking. In Parliament anti-"shouting" legislation was passed, but nothing else was done. The feeling during the past year had widened and deepened. There had been a magnificent meeting in the Town Hall, and since the meeting the .various speakers had been- surprised at the amount of support they had received from all sorts and conditions of people. Ho was certain that there was a great body-of people behind the movement, and he was also satisfied that if the question could be submitted to a referendum it would bo carried, as it had been in Australia, by ,i very largo majority. In England and in other parts of the Empire great reforms in connection with the sale of drink had been, carried out, and great Success had attended them. A great many more reforms should bo introduced in this country. In the coming session of Parliament there would be presented a- number of petitions bearing a great body of signatures, and he hoped that the Ministry would take, notice of the demand. He hoped that the Ministry would support the Bill when it was introduced. Examination of the division lists of last year would show that if the Ministry would' support the legislation it could be passed, but if tlio Ministry would not support it. nothing would _be done this, session. Presently tho Prime Minister and Sir Joseph "Ward would return iron] the Old Country, and on their visit Home they would have an opportunity of seeing, as he had seen, the very great success that had attended the reforms introduced there. This movement was not a- mere flash in the pan but the r.esult of a very determined feeling that had grown (luring the past year —had indeed been growing ever since the war began—until it was now a movement of enormous size. The people were demanding that the use of alcohol should be dimi'nislied, and the deputation asked that Sir James Allen should, when his colleagues returned shortly, bring the question before them. He hoped that the Ministry would support this great work. Loss of Efficiency. Mr. John Hutcliesou said that there was not. a man in the room who did not realise how heavy was the burden that, the Minister of Defence had had to carry since the beginning of the war —([fear, hear)—and they had not come to abuse their privilege by indulging in boastful or extravagant talk, but to tell him firmly and from the bottom of their hearts that they believed it to. be the duty of the Government to curtail the use'of alcoholic liquor, and this in the interests of every member of tho community. The wish of everybody was to win tlie war as soon as possible, and they should be possessed and haunted by an intense and never-ceasing desire that every ounce of energy, of wit, skill', ami nerve, and physical force should be conserved and thrown into the great cataclysm, lo prolong the war by one single moment when the papers contained such long lists of killed and wounded as they had all read that morning would be arohtreachery to the country. When they thought of the great number ot fine young men who had given their Jive?, when they knew that there was scarcely a home iii New Zealand where tliere wis not "i-ief and dole, it was tho duty of goad citizens to take measures to stop the waste of wealth and efficiency caused bv the abuse of alcohol. Personally ho was in favour of the total abolition of liquor but he was not authorised on this occasion to plead for that. All that ho was authorised to ask for was that the sale of liquor should bo restricted. AVitli the approbation of every man whoso opinion was worth having, the tiovernini'iit had laid powerful hands on every useful man in the country. Some of them had families, and some of them had in addition businesses which represented the whole of the conserved energies of their lives. It was kilo twaddle for any militarv service board to say to men in this position that they should advertise for men to take charge of their businesses. The fact, was that those busi-ne-sos would have to be closed down. While this was happening tho interests that would bo affected by this measure nt reform could not be considered. The closing of hotels at l> o clock would do some good, but all the evils' would not be- remedied. He was of opinion that the Government, ought to prevent tho consumption of liquor oil' licensed premises altogether, or at any rate that it should not be lawful for liquor to be tiiktm into private !:ome3 in unrestricted quantities. Soldiers who Drink. A-; ,'i inr-mber of the War Relief Assor ciatiou, Mr. Hutchesoii referred to (.lie effect of drink on soldiers as proved by oases which came before (lie .-i.Asociation. lie referred also to another evil which he said existed in cheaper bars of low-class public hoii3cs in the city. These places were assignation houses where vile men enticed soldiers under the iiifluciira of liquor to visit houses of illfame. ITis last argument was that Ihe consumption of liquor should bo rcsl.iiolfrl (o older mflii, bocaimo it whk not rorr tain yot that even men such us ho him-.-•rlf might not. have to fight for thoir freedom, and it was nocessaiy that they

should be compel loil to keep themselves in a stato of the highest physical efficiency. Practical Suggestions, llr. (.'. Jj. iforioou, K.C., referred only to phase? ol' the problem not touched Ml>on by the other speakers. He behoved, ho said, that fl. majority of the hotellceeners would be in favour of clo=iu{j at six (i , clock if it were not for tho question of hw.< of business profits. They were alarmed nt the prospect of having to bear nil the loss resulting from the diminution of hours of business, lie believed there were numbers of holelkeepers who were, anxious to assist the Government in'tliiii matter, although he was iiii-iiro (hat some ol' them wore not. He would have liked to see an arrangement made by which the hotolkec-pers would •jet some reduction of rent for lass of business, but if they would not agree upon thw, and preferred to wail raitil they were compelled to reduce their limits of business, they must lake the consequence*. It was true that in peace times they were supposed to proceed on the principles of absolute justice, but; while men were giviu» their lives for the country it would be idle to talk of putting private business rights ngaiiidt the iii'ler* , --!.-! of ihc community. Mr. Jloriiion said he wished to make one or two practical suggestions regarding a kind of liquor business existing; in this city which was not hotel business at all. Wholesale supplies were obtained by certain people, and the police could tell where the supplies went to. line illicit trading in. liquor had had ejects mr the soldiers. He was sure that if the Minister took the opinion of the ramp medical staffs they would tell him so. Do would therefore suggest _ that the hotels should be closed at Go clock, that, the bottle trade ehoirfd bo stopped a-b.-<»-lutely, and that it should be made impossible for any person to get wholesale »uj>pliK of two -allous of Junior without a •police certicaTe. It would be absolutey necessary to dose the back door it the front door whs to bo closed. It the hotels were closed at six o clock there would lie an increase, in the class ot trade which was a very much worse business than tho hotel bar trade, over which there was some supervision. .11 o did not think it would lie unreasonable to require a man to provide himself with a police permit before ho was allowed to purchase liquor wholesale. If he himself wished to buy ii dozen carU'idfcs for a pea rifle lie must get a certificate from the police, and surely it was not unreasonable to ask people to net some certificate before they were allowed to buy linuor. No respectable person would have any difficulty in getting a certificate. He was strongly of opinion that a corollary to closing of hotels would bo tho institution of precautionary measures such as he hud suggested to m'ovent illicit trading. The stonnins of tho supply of liquor might not wholly eliminate houses of ill-fame, but it would at least protect young men from being robbed of their loose coin when they went to them. MINISTER IN REPLY DIIWEKEXCE OF OPINION IN CABINET. Sir James Allen said he had been ilad to hear what, tho deputation had had to say, although lie would hovo preferred that tliey had waited until the return of .Mr. Masscy and Sir Joseph Ward. He would not detail what had .been done in tho previous session, nor would he ipako any reference to it except to say that there hud been a dilVe-rence of opinion ninong Ministers, and this -ivas shown in the voting. "Whether differences of opinion existed among Ministers now he could not say until they met to discuss the question. He himself had realised that thero was a strong feeling throughout the country on this question, and he had taken steps (o inform Mr. Jlassey some time a«o how strong the feelintr lias. When lie returned the representations of the deputation would he pinned Iwfore him, and before Cabinet Ho (Sir James Allen) did not think it wise that he should express any personal opinion, because he had. certain duties to Cabinet us well as to the country, and his own constituents. He had recently visited his own electorate and hnd come awav very much impressed with tho opinion there. Not a Practice. He wished to say a word on one reinark made by Mr. Hutchoson about men beinheld in camp because they got drunk before tho time of their departure. Tfo knew of no such practice. There might be an occasional individual instance. Jlr. Hutcheson: I should he sorry if amremark of mine, would l.ead anybody to suppose that there was 'a practice. ' All I know of are the individual instances. SirJamPs Allen: Our practice is to put the man on board as a prisoner, and he lias to lake his gruel. (Hear, hear.)

The Other Evil. K« quite agreed with Mr. Morison that early closing would bo vory largely incflcctivo unless some other steps were taken, and lie was very glad that suggestions lijitl heart nmde on the matter. Ho would have great pleasure in submitting them to his colleagues. He believed that the evil to which Mr. Morison had referred was a. worse evil than the open bar of the licensed house, and this also was the opinion of officers in camp, jfc would beg of the public to do all in (heir power to stop this illicit trading and the evils arising from it. He regretted , vory much that these evils had not been wiped out altogether. No Wet Canteens. "I want to add," continued Sir James, "that, if six o'clock closing is to be made an argument for wet canteens in the camps, I can have nothing to do with it. (Hoar, hear.) I am so convinced that the principle is right to have no liquor at all in the camps that I will not touch any wet canteen as long as 1 remain a Minister. (Hear, hear.) It is the duty of the military authorities to set an example, and the example we want to eel: is that the soldier can got on better without liquor, and that he is a better man if ho never touches liquor, (ileal-, hear.) If G o'clock closing is carried, and an agitation is raised for wet canteens, I can have nothing (o do with it." The Returned Soldier. The .Minister said he wished to Uko the opportunity of tusking the public to assist the authorities with the returned soldiers. Six o'clock closing was not going to end the evil as it affected them. Through mistaken kindness, perhaps not always through kindness, ' people were supplying liquor illicitly to soldiers who had returned, and the practice was an evil olio that was doing a great deal of harm to the returned soldiers. Whether anything could bo done by legislation to restrict it ho could not say, but to his mind what would be moiv effective than legislation would be a healthy public opinion, t-o that no man or woman "would oiler to a returned soldier any liquor at all. He hoped public opinion would •jrew in this direction, for the present ft was n. fact that returned soldiers wero occasionally getting into difficulties not because they wanted liquor, but because others were leading them to drink. He woiild have pleasure in letting Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward know what the'deputation had said. He himself reali-ed the strength of the movement throughout New Zealand. (Applause.) The Mayor thanked Sir .lames Allen for having heard the deputation. AN OAMARU RESOLUTION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Oamaru, Juno 21. A public meeting held to-night was addressed by representative, citizens in favour of six o'clock closing. ■ Mr. Lee, M..P., was presented with a petition signed by 11500 electors of Oα in am. Mr.., Lee, in roply, promised to support any "lobulation brought forward on the lines of" the petitioners' requests.