SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16581, 3 July 1917, Page 4

SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

DEPUTATION TO MR. MASSEY. CABINET NOT COMMITTED. [BY TELEGBAPH — CORBESFONDISNT.] WELLINGTON. Monday. A deputation" from the New Zealand Alliance waited upon the Prime Minister this afternoon, but did not succeed in extracting from him much definite information regarding the attitude of the Government to the demand for legislation providing for the closing of the hotel bars at 6 p.m. Mr. Massey did not say whether the Government would be prepared to embody their requests in a Government Bill and put it through Parliament this session. He merely said that the matter had not received the consideration of the Cabinet, and until Cabinet had expressed its mind on the subject he had no right to commit the Government to any course of action. All that he could promise was that duriag the session Parliament would be given an opportunity of dealing with the question. The deputation tried hard to induce Mr. Massey to give it a more tangible and definite promise, but it failed.

Mrs. A. R. Atkinson, the Rev. R. S. Gray, Mr. A. S. Adams, and the Rev. W. J. Dawson supported their request by arguments with which the public is now quite familiar, and the most instructive part of the proceeding was the "asides" and interjections. In order to give Mr. Massey an idea of the strength of the six o'clock closing movement, Mr. Gray mentioned that last year petitions representing 100,000 voters were presented to Parliament, and the petitions to be presented this year would contain a much larger number of signatures. Those to be presented to-morrow would bring the total up to 120,000, and there were many more to come. Anxiety Over Soldiers. Mr. Massey asked whether it was part of the object of the deputation to prevent the soldiers from getting drink while they are in camp. Mr. Gray replied that they were against wet canteens. They had no intention of discriminating between soldiers and civilians, and if what they were asking for would have that effect, it would be a pure accident. If the military advisers said the soldiers must have liquor they should arrange to let them get it by half-past five. Mr. Massey indicated that this did not meet with his approval. Mr. Gray was most emphatic in declaring that six o'clock was the irreducible minimum that the alliance would accept. He said thousands of people in Dunedin would not sign the petition because they thought six o'clock closing did not go far enough. Mr. Dawson : That is true, all over the Dominion.

Mr. Gray was proceeding to indicate what might happen if the Government refused to accede to the request put forward by the deputation when he was interrupted by the Prime Minister, who said he had read some speeches in which certain threats were made, and added: "No self-respecting Government would allow itself to be influenced by threats." Mr. Gray said he had no intention of making any threats. He merely wanted to let the Government know that if the demand for six o'clock closing was not granted the supporters of the movement would do their utmost to arouse the country to insist upon a referendum.

" A Screaming Farce."

Mr. Gray -went on to say that the antishouting law was a screaming farce. It had done no good whatever. It had been offered almost as an alternative to six o'clock closing, and had done the six o'clock movement much harm.

Mr. Adams asked for a reduction in the local option poll handicap, and asked Mr. Massey to agree to the 55-45 compromise. " You can do it if you will," said Mr. Adams.

Mr. Massey interjected: "The House declined to do it before," when Mr. Adams' suggested that the control of brewers' licenses ought not to be in the hands in which it was at present. Mr. Massey: Do you know anything wrong Mr. Adams: I am not going to suggest that at all.

Mr. Massey said he had heard no complaints whatever. Mr. Grey endeavoured to focus the wishes of the deputation by asking the Prime Minister to introduce a Government Bill providing for six o'clock closing, and urging that Ministers should make the measure their own.

In his reply, Mr. Massey repudiated the suggestion that the liquor trade was sheltering behind the Government, and , quoted facts to prove that the Government had done a great deal in the way of controlling the fiquor traffic since the beginning of the war. There had been a great improvement during the last two years. There had been a substantial decrease in the number of convictions for drunkenness. The law in New Zealand) though the hours were longer, was just as rigidly enforced as in Britain. Mr. Gray : These are only palliatives. Mr. Massey: Anything short of wiping out the whole traffic would be regarded as palliatives to men like yourself. Mr. Gray: We are now only asking for six o'clock closing. Good Conduct of Soldiers. Mr. Massey said lie bad seen a. great deal of the New Zealand soldiers in Britain and France, and he could testify to their sobriety and good conduct. (Hear, hear.) They were not all " plaster saints," but he had met thousands of them and had never during his visit seen a New Zealand soldier affected by liquor. The London chief of police had told him. that none of the soldiers from different parts of the Empire had conducted themselves so well as the New Zealanders. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Massey went on to say that there was nothing about which the House got so excited as liquor legislation, but the Government was "not going to shirk this thing." He could not commit the Government as Cabinet had not yet considered the matter, but Parliament would this session have an opportunity of dealing with the question. He did not expect the session to be a long one, and the Bill would not be left over until the dvinir hours. " , M £. Gray referred to the possibility of the Six O'clock Closing Bill, not being passed, and spoke of the likelihood of an overwhelming demand for a referendum. Mr. Masse said he would not commit the Government to any measure for a referendum. He felt strongly that it was not a satisfactory method, though of course, the local option poll would stand If members did not give effect to- the wishes of the public, they could be called to account. Mr. Gray: "You don't give us a chance if you extend the life of Parliament " Mr. Adams: "We want to know the attitude of the Government as soon J possible We want to know what to do ' Mr. Massey : " The Bill will be an answer You will get your chance." Sir James Allen and Sir Joseph Ward were present, but took no part in the discussion. ™ After the Proceedings had concluded, Mr Adams said "We hare pot nothing. It is most unsatisfactory »