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Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 12

To the Editor.

Sir,— May I, through your columns, reply to Mr. J. Malton Murray? The 6 o'clock closing time in my opinion does not account for less drunkenness. I am inclined very much to the belief that to some extent the opposite is the case. Mr. Murray evidently does not realise that those folk who are determined to have more than their fill by getting drunk and making fools of themselves as well as menacing the lives of others and themselves, as Mr. Murray and others point out, will do so whether 6 o'clock, midday closing, or absolute, prohibition is the law. Your previous correspondent, Mr. Rudd, will have many hard-working temperate men, including myself, supporting his views. I definitely support 10 o'clock closing against 6 o'clock.

I do not know Mr. Murray's position in society or the position of the people he may possibly represent, but I do know quite definitely that the class of which I am a member, the working class, will by a great majority endorse a new law for 10 o'clock closing hour in hotel bars, This same great majority' are not drunkards, and will, not spend any more through 10 o'clock closing, because they have not got it to spend anyhow. But where 10 o'clock closing will be in their favour will be because they will have time to change from their working clothes, and have their drink at leisure, instead of trying to enjoy a "couple" in a hurry as under the present law.

Finally, although I am not very conversant with the liquor laws in Great Britain, it is stated that the hotel bars in England have something like eight hours per day in which they are open to the public, at intervals, finally closing at 10 or 11 p.m.

The Government with the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers' Association and with due regard for the desires of the people who take liquor, could well decide to amend this particular law.—l • am, etc.,

BUILDER'S NAVVY.