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Otago Daily Times, Issue 16718, 12 June 1916, Page 4

The results of the referendum, incomplete as they are, in New South' Wales on Saturday on the question of the closing hours of hotels enable a definite idea to be formed as to the likely effect of the voting. The referendum conditions provide that tho hour which secures an absolute majority of votes shall be declared to be the closing hour of hotels and licensed premises, for the duration of the war and for a period of six months thereafter. Voters were given full latitude in the exercise of preference votes, the consideration of which would be important if no hour should leocivo an abMluto maj'o rity of first preference \otes From the fact, however, that the votes m favoui of six o'clock closing show a majority of more than 127,000 over those for all the other proposals, the adoption of the carlioi hour would seem to be easily assured. It would be wrong to regard the referendum in New South Wales as a trial of strength between the temperance and the liquor interests. The war has put its own complexion on the situation. Six o'clock closing has been propo-ed, and offered to the public, if it should desire it, as a war precautionary measure. The argument that it represents a desirable step towards the attainment of higher national efficiency at a time when that lb highly" important has appealed to a large majority of the people in New South Wale. The noting on the question is conclusive evidence of the exi'tence in that State —as in other p-irts of the commonwealth—of a strong jiublic feeling m favour of curtailment of the opportunities foi drinking in tho«e days of war. This feeling constitutes a force the existence of which the publicans must recognise as cheerfully as they can. Tho people of Sydney have hail an unfortunate expei l enee, such r we have not had here, ,u witnessing the effcct of placing temptation towards the undue consumption of liquor in the way of those whose uniform marks

their conduct out particularly for obser vtilion and comment. The existence of ,i I'iigo military umip within c.i/y ill Lane of ,i, Lily tli.it ;i bounds ni llfcll'od ]ne mioci mii't hi in i iun.il to tlio attainment of tho highest rmJiUuy efficiency, and no doubt goe> f;u to c\pl.ini the dunction of the vote in Sydney and .snbuib

Avium an' attention would appear to have bien, temporarily at lm,-t, diverted from (ho war in Em ope to the contemplation of a battle of a very diiferent Kind. The great Ameiican political maehino lias- again '•onimoneod to offer those lemarkable maniffs'ations winch can bo faithfully uhed upon to reproduce themselves every four years. For all tho joy, the excitement, and the uproar of the; period that has now Ixion ushered in all good citizens of tho United States donbtlco'? pay 'homage to their 'jlorious constitution. Out of all the ferment will come in November nevfc the election of the Piesident. Tho two sections of the Republican party do not seem to have been a bio to effect such-a, oomplcto com bination of forces as is nece rary to give them their best chances of success. The up*?hot has been tho nomination of Justice Hughes as Republican candidate. Mr Roosovelt, whom the Progressive element desired as its own candidate, upon his rejection by tho party as a whole as 011 the occasion of the last election, has declined nomination owing to his unwillingness to split the Republican vote. This would not seem to make much difference, however, if the reading is cor rect that tho nomination 01 Justice Hughes practically ensures the re-election of President Wilson. The description of the proceedings at tho conventions in Chicago last week is probably not of a character by which America wool Id liko to have her greatness judged. Tumultuous crowds roaring themselves hoarse, processions, brass bands in deafening blast, party "boosters" by the hundred indulging their frenzied activities, professional entertainers performing in the interests of rival candidates, and orations galore—such are curious methods for a great and enlightened nation to adopt m the selection of a personage to fill the very highest position m all the land. They seem, however, to suit the American temperament.

We shall, we hope, bo acquitted of any desire to check the flow of money from the dominion to ease the circumstances of the dependents of the sailois of the Imperial Navy who have lost their lives in the war when -we express a certain misgiving as to the wisdom of the proposal of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce that the Government should place on the Estimates a vote of not less than £100,030 as a contribution from New Zealand to the provision of relief for wounded sailors and for the dependents of those who have made the supreme sacrifice. The wholesome principle that there should be no interference by the Legislature of any part of the Empire with the governmental action or governmental arrangements of any other part is one which seems applicable to this case. The men of the Imperial Navy are, exoept in so far as they belong to purely local units, paid by the Imperial Government, which is also responsible for the pensions that are payable to the incapacitated and to the dependents of the lost. If the provision that is made by the Imperial Government is inadequate as, according to colonial standards, it certainly is and as in any circumstances we believe it to be, it hardly comes within the province of the Parliament of any of the dominions to declare, by inference, that it should be increased. A parallel case to the proposal and passage of a v6te, such as the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce regards as desirable, might be presented if, say, the Parliament of Canada were to vote a sum of money to be applied to the payment of pensions to dependents of mem bers of the New Zealand forces whoso lives arc sacrificed in the war. Any action of such a character by Canada would be resented, not appreciated, in this dominion. It would involve a reflection by one Parliament within the Empire on the judgment of the Parliament of another portion of the Empire. Each Parliament must be presumed to know how it may best transact its own business. There is an obvious distinction between official liberality and private liberality in this matter, just as there is a distinction between an official expression of opinion and a private expression of opinion. While the people of New Zealand, as citizcns of the Empire, may legitimately express their views, in public meeting or otherwise, upon such * question as that of the future government of Ireland, it would be an impertinence on the part of the Parliament to offer advic.o on the subject. Upon this principle it seems to us that while the need of prodding means to relieve the financial circumstances of the dependents of the sailors who have lost their lives in the defence of our liberties is unquestionably one that calls for generous and practical acknowledgment on the part of the people of the dominion a very delicate question is raised bv the suggestion that the State Should, at the instance of the Government, make a contribution to a fund with that object in view.