SIX O'CLOCK AND POLITICS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 12 July 1917, Page 8

SIX O'CLOCK AND POLITICS.

The Parliamentary correspondent of the Manawatu Standard says: During the opening days of the session it was whispered about the lobbies that the advocates of 6 o'clock closing for hotels hnd prepared an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, expressing confidence in the Ministry, but indicating to the Governor that no legislative programme that did not provide for the restriction they proposed to place upon the liquor traffic would be satisfactory to the country. A pricked card was produced showing a small majority in favor of the amendment. Now .it is reported that a majority of the Labor ivembers have gone over to the other side, and that the latest count of heads has left the six o'clockers in a minority. This may not be followed by the abandonment of the proposed amendment, as the numbers still show the parties to be very closely divided, but probably it will lead to further disintegration among the representatives of Labor in the House.