HOTEL HOURS

Nelson Evening Mail, 20 July 1916, Page 6

HOTEL HOURS

LICENSED VICTUALLERS' VIEWS. (United Pkess Association.) WELLINGTON, July 19. The Amalgamated Licensed Victuallers' Association to-day passed the following resolutions: — : "(1) That the agitation directed against the licensed trade by Prohibitionists is ■unpatriotic, unreasonable, and unwarrantable. la) Unpatriotic, because it is tending to create class prejudice and embitter feeling among different sections of the community at a time when all should be in accord to overthrow the road hogs of Europe. "(b) Unreasonable, in that it would violate the pledge or 'scrap of paper' given by the people at the ballot-box in 2914, when by an overwhelming majority the electors declared against any interference with the licensing system until at least 1917. "(c) And unwarrantable, in that any interference with the licensing system now would be in direct opposition to the voice and mandate of the people and a violation of the pledge given by the people at the last elections to the trade. "(2) That, relying upon the declared* ■will of the people, members of the trade have entered into rebuilding and various other contracts, and any alteration in the hours of licensing now -would not only be contrary to the people's pledge to the trade, . but would involve the trade in incalculable loss. "(3) That, in view of the evidence of the Defence himself and his responsible advisers, Colonels Potter a:id j Adams, there is absolutely no military : necessity for the agitation for an alteration in the.present licensing law, either! by proclamation or otherwise."

NEW-ZEALAND ALLIANCE. WELLINGTON, July 19. The New Zealand Alliance to-day resolved as follows: "That we tender our hearty congratulations to Colonel Losan, Administrator of Samoa, for his successful efforts in abolishing the wet canteen when he found that it worked for the injury of soldiers who are there for the defence of the Empire." "That we are strengthened in our conviction of the need for the 6 o'clock closing of liquor bars during the war period by every phase of the evidence which comes before us, having corresponded with the Mayors of 60 of the largest boroughs in the Dominion and having received answers from 50 of them, and finding that, while 15 of them prefer not to give specific answers, onlysix are opposed to a>;d 29 are heartily in favour of closing at 6. "We further urge upon the Government the great national dxtty of legislating at once to secure the closing of bars at 6 p.m. or else provide for a referendum, by which the people can decide for 6. 7, 8, 9, or 10 as the closing hour, which decision may become effective without a day's unnecessary delay."