HOTEL HOURS.

Northern Advocate, 3 July 1917, Page 3

HOTEL HOURS.

AN ALLIANCE APPEAL.

PREMIER'S NON-COMMITTAL,

OPPORTUNITY FOB DEBATE.

By Telegraph.—Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 3. A deputation representing the National Convention of the New Zealand Alliance waited on Mr Massey, Sir J. Ward, and Sir J, Allen to urge the Government to introduce six o'clock closing legislation during the current session. The Rev. Gray (Dunedin) said that last year the Alliance had presented a petition signed by a hundred thousand people to the Premier, but the Government took no satisfactory action in the matter. Mr Massey, replying, said that the Government was sheltering "tho Trade, ,, as should/be evident from what had been done in the last three years. As to proposed legislation, he might assure them that the Government was not going to shirk the question. The matter had not been before Cabinet yet; they had had far more important things to deal with. In regard to a matter like that —an important question and a policy question —no Minister had any right to commit the Government to any course of action until it had been before Cabinet. He was not, therefore, able to make a

more definite statement; but certainly within the present sessidn Parliament would have an opportunity of dealing with the question. He could not say anything further. It would be competent for any member to move any amendment he cared to move, and it would be for the House to say whether the amendment should be agreed to.