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Northern Advocate, 20 July 1917, Page 1

During the course of debate in the House of Representatives the Hon. G. W. Russell said that he was not in agreement with his friend the Minis ter for Defence in regard to wet canteens in the camps. He held that if the young men could get liquor in the camps under proper supervision, it would be better than at present. They went and worked up a prohibition thirst for a fortnight, and when they got to town they went to the nearest public-house, and after two or three glasses of ale he was afraid they got into mischief. In answer to a question, the hon. member for Hawke's Bay had said that he would not vote for six o'clock closing unless it became necessary to win the war. Thus he endeavoured to please and win the votes of both the liquor interests and the prohibitionists. (Laughter.) But did the hon. gentleman seriously mean to say that they were going to win the war any the sooner by closing hotel bars at six o'clock, 8 o'clock, 9 o'clock, or any closing hour than the present closing time? "If he does," declared Mr Russell, "I am sure lie does not possess the sense of proportion which so skilled a mathematician as I know him to be should possess."