WAR REGULATIONS BILL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16752, 21 July 1916, Page 3

WAR REGULATIONS BILL.

EARLY CLOSBNG. 'A LIVELY DEBATE. Mil STATILUE ROITSED. (Fnon Our Own Cor.p.csroN'nrNr) WKLLINGTOX, July 20. Tho adjourned di baie on the \V u- K-e----gulations Hill v\as alternoon, v\hen the i-ulv dosing 1.-.suo mnuidiately camo to the lore. Statham imparted some liveliness to the debate by omphntui'lv d> living that he bad asstotedTm cUliberat.lv " wll.ii'g out" the report of the JU to /. Petitions lomnuttoe's repoit on thu tally closing p<4itious. KXrERIFACE JX MATAUIIA. Mr Anderson said that those, who fiiipported caily closing had no dcfeiro to" attempt to millvooddlo tho who were a very sober lot of men on th ■ whoip. H<' contended that tho consumption of liquor would be lessened if the hotels wero at an earlier hour. In tho salo of 1 qnor had ir. itenaifr decreased .since no license was oairipii, despite the fachtie* afforded In brewoiiee for its purchase. Mr Wilford: Don't people drink m their own honi-s instead of >n tho hotels? Mr Andoreon replrd thi,t whiL-t there were TindoubUdly many ieg parl'CS, tho titmldng in homes vras not so gmit as was c.ften representc.i lie had previously voted for license, but aft"r *-eing tho ofFwl of no Iccnse he had voted for it ever since He would support a. reduction of hotel hour.On the subject of compensation he thougnt nn arrangement should bo mado bctwc.-n tho lamlloids and tenants, but there was no reason wiiy any compensation should be {>aj ' \ "MODERATE" VIEW. Mr Wilkinson said he was a jSToderate, and believed in so7nc curtaihnent of tho hours for the sale of liquor. Tlie Bill provided for anti-shouting, a.nd ho could sco no reason why t.hey should not go a step further His biipnort of early closing vvas based on economic grounds. P.e tho-ight that 12 hours a. day was sufficient for tbo sale of liquor, but, "tho question was when the 12 hours should start. Ho had dom> his best to brintj about a compromise on this matter, end he hoped thnt a compromise would vet t>9 arrni.£?ed. If the hours, wero not curtailed an attempt would bo made to obtain a referendum. Tho trade would be well advised lo agree to a compromise, as there was no doubt as +0 what tho result of a referendum would be. Mr Wilford: How can you move for a referendum' It would bo an appropriation clause, as the cost would bo £30,000 or £40 000. ,_ ~ Mr Wilkinson: I oannot -say how it would be" done, but tho House. I understand, enn indicate its wishes no referred' to the success of early closing in Australia. The Hon. Mr Hodman- In Adelaide they have closed tho hotels at 6 o'clock, but now ti-erp is more drinking than over Mr 'Wilkinson: Well, that should smt the trado ' NOT TALKED OUT. Mr Statham epoko regarding a charge that had been made agairet him m connection with tho " talking out" of the report of the M to Z Committeo. Ho asked whether Mr Jsdtt reallv thought that ho took part in the discussion with the intention of "talking out" the report. Mr Isitt: I know that your whip (Mr DicKson) was travelling round the House fretting members to speak. Mr Statham: I took no part whatever in any talking out. Mr Isitt: I accept your statement. Mr Statham: Yet the same evening someone sent a telegram to Duncdin stating that I and six others had "talked out , tho report. \ Voice: A dirty trick. Mr Statham said "ho had merely given a resume of what took place befoie tho committee, yet ho had been attacked in tho rear for* having taken part in a "conspiracy." Mr Statham proceeded to read extracts from tho Vanguard, when he was checked by the Speaker, who said ho could not read anything reflecting on the action of members in the House. Mr Wilford: You can raise it as a question of privilege if you like. Mr StatbaOi: I don't wish to do that. There arc, I believe, legal me-ans by which I can make these gentlemen what they ha"e boon sayincr, but I won't say anything about that in the meantime. I have been receiving a I.irgo number of anonymous letters threatening me. Mr Wilford: My gracious! Wo have all had those for years and years. Mr fitatham added that he would not bo swayed in his action by any fear of personal consequences. In referring to what, had been said regarding tho soldiers ho said he regretted that anyone sheuld have referred to some of the eolrl eis as " sodden lumps of fiesh," as had been done by one witness. As. to compensation, some of the witnesses before the committeo had expressed the opinion that compensation should be given. It was not fair that in the middle of tho thrcp years' term they should infFct a, loss on tho hotolkoepers by closing tho.r houses earlier without paying compensation. Mr I=itt: Was it done when tho hours wero reduced from 11 to 10? Mr Statham: If wi-ong were clone then it is no reason why wiong should bo done now. Mr Isitt: I do not agree that it was wrong. Mr Statham urged that a restrictive tax pViould be placed on liquor at its source. This would mean that everybody would bear a portion of the burden. AN ELOQUE-NT ADVOCATE. • Mr Isitt, icplying to Mr Statham, said be had no connection with the Vanguard, bad not contributed to it for thice years, and had not seen the statement referred to till it was shown to him by a. member of tho House. Ho accepted Jlr fcUlham's assurance that ho chd not know what was going on, but he maintained that those associated with him vvero fully advised of the edicme, and the last speaker on that day was asked to "catry on' till 5 30, when the report was "talked oxtt." Ivfr Isilt congratulated the Minister of Public Health on his speech on venereal discaw:, and wont on to argue that there v.as a very close connection between diink and venereal disease. If they really desired, to preserve Iho health of the soldiers, it was their duty to lessen their temptation by reducing the hours for tho retail eule of liquor. Various officers had assured him that the efficiency of the soldiers was affected 10 per cent by liquor; bjt this question did not only affect the soldier. It concerned tho whole economic position of the dominion. It was not-patriotic to ask the wome7i of tho country to gi\ c up their men and at the same tune to seek to protect the financial interests of "the trade" from the slightest disturbance. Tho evidence of Professor Bedford before the committee had boon carefullv left alone by the advocates of liquor. He had «i'd that it. was the boimdcn duty of the Empire to pconomisp Should we not begin at tho chief sources of v.oste. whic?h were drinking and trimbling, each of which evil cors'imrd £4 000 000 a year . Most men admitted that to short"7i the hours of hotels would do rood, b;>t it was urged in d"f"nco that to do so would be to work inuirv to the I'ccnsee. It v.-as claimed that to close the hot" , -- at 6 oVlo'-k would involve the trade in a loss of £1200.001; but this wh merely cxti iva gance. Tho "scrap of pspci , ' referred to as between the licensee arc! (ho country was not a. contract, bvt merclv; a nermit Tint license had alrea i" been mochfird at various times, and, if the nnv* pov or of modification wero exercised r.ov. no spot ia.l msr> for compTis-it-on co-Id be rmde our. If tho whoVsnle branch of f'e tr.-de benefited V-7 th" changed en*>di' ons Urn it should bp mire lieivilv t-r-H mid an adjustment m.-ule i 11 ll the re'-'il H-.imh. too arrcir. coKR-dox. Dr Ncwnnn, rofeninc to vomvpil d<<«\i«.i\ complimented the Mim ter on the matter of his speech, but said ho <-]H not *><rrec v> !Mi ihe fiequenlly-cxpres-scd op.nion that thr ,■ disoises were rife. Tlv disrasc<- were nor nearly so prevalent ,tr they vvrre in Hip old countries. Tho Minster's piopp-.nh weie full of coercion, and one of the chutes v .1 , - ,111 insult to every wempn id New &'i tanrl it w.is a wiortr c l- >r< Tt v ; t'lilb re "mct"d th" OD Act. Th- M'liister »r pnjncr tho wrong way to v o' k to stamp the disPTse out ,ind 111, ■! right w iv l>v which he co"l 1 do mwli goo<l voik I'o ■ the iidmiir,stK ,t lo'i ef any =iie!i letri^'aiion there fhould L° v oiiTMi m ji ti-it's m>l wo;n°n pol're Ir waf qiri > \v,onir tint the a lm":ii-fi'ilion cf the 'it 'houll )r r t wholh to liv 11 inli-c U<' would -iivdp the Tloi-S' on this subjref, been;','' he <Ud no' bf-'irvp ; n it On i ! »' 1 quni quc-t'oii hr ii)ibr,iid r d the Ho\ei '"unit for Invmg rpfii'-Pil to inkr- nnv art inn to l-pdunp t , )' pof-umniion of Vγ ~r '!''i<- ilm^in-rn 1 lnd tii 1 even t r >\<"il liqror our , i<r'i £5 001000 h"d pni on |lip peonl" til" tivtinn on h'P l- was a I it. r> *- nil TTp Iml.Vv"' that thnrp -v a - a ~r„,,-,] oi.inian in all rink' of copWv nil nvei Vl ~w /,A"lird tint th" hour* for th" ■=>'" of Iwmr should lie "d-icd. If tho Fouse would not reduce tbo hours it could at

lc, «t insist upon tv irferrndiini and leave th,> whole (juvMion fo' cUtcimin.ilion by the |'t\lpll . It W.IS li"e (O fvl\ ll.lt lllPll' V\ IS no ihunki'iiiioss in ,\fw Zealand Then' weio <>11 too iiiiiiv PMvli-iuis of it in .in\ lov.ti in our c iiut'i , \ I Mr \\<bl> -said lip hid a!w ivs reir.i.led "Air T>oo/p" as nn mum ,ind In l hopnl to continue In do so .ill Ins lifo ]ip <>l> Ifrtrd, howevu. to tlii- idia of the V.III, which w.is "go\eiri)ie;.t l>v i< in'ition " \X 1 M SITU, I'OIM , Mr Wnght Ik l<l tint thf pii'.ihVritton of tho s.koili of I'ie MinMir <f I , '"'lie n<,ill' 1 w.i<= a breaih of the [iul<cpnt Pub lu.ition-. \et, ,iMil fii'ini* iMii>|>!i!etib would pioiubli, bo li'-. .irh< of tli.it \.et unle-s it v.PiP amended. 11 "• w.u cK'd tint ll»' r;iic-'ion of veneii.'l d'f-ea?e hid been taken up To Hi m\ v.o'ii 11 this si,l>i, -I. \l. .m,'l he 111 a, hut \x • tu<>e nf !l-i> r \<r\ inno ciu-c of t!ip vvo>M it w.is m.r -irv thai an ediK.itiom! campaign s'lo ilil lie prtpi'pc. upon Al the r-amo ti"iP hp tlii i'ilit their v\.is t 51> nnirli power rjnir 111 the Bill for tho !io\cir,i:ip;it to ;iei l>v reiruhiions ('ll tho liquor question h" pomtu' nut ili.il m liuiipt'iu. Cliristrhurrh anil Wellington thn pi"s was asking for miiup ictiiction of hoti 1 l>olll6, a 11<4 tins t\,i.s. ;i fin refli ct'on ot public opinion. No question of bre'lcing i contract c'nc into the question, for the licenses, vck , i=mip<l only for one -soar and tint- wrw all tint ov>\ wcio bound t>\. Mr M'Conibs rofoird to t'>e action in various Xusti.ih.in St'itts, and tnjred that a similar routs -hoiild b~ t.ik"n h"re of enihling the v> onle to vnt" on what hour? tho hotels should reni.i'n open NO Cil \NGK NEEDKJ). Mr Scott s<i;.i th.it those, who were advocating early closing wero aiming at the hotelLcepor. Vt'liy <lid they not go to the root of the mutter and impose suon abeavj t.irnf as would compel lh" pi ople to Iμ .saber? He had 110 connection with inc tr.ide. but ho could not cii jjuis,' fiom him self the fn<-t th.it il these ho,lls wen iv bwiotod very great harm, would be done to the licensee. Po far an tile soldiers were concerned, ho h.ul bet'i &iupi.r.i-<.l at tin* excellence, of their bc-havionr It was ridiculous to say th.it citly < losing v.1,3 necessary for flic soldier. \YIWI the prohibitionists found th.it this o>, , v.. , , becoming unpopular thi_y .s.i'd thifc it w.is necessary for economic reasons. ]i it woivmces on those giounds he would siippou it, but he did not think the need had been proved. To take a referendum now would bo unfair and sheer ihypoeriov. Mr Payno pointed out thai social conditions encouraged some meanue ot prostitution, as economic reason*. foiLado men mairymg until thej were about 34 je.iii of age on the average Tho reil remedy was education, which should begin only. The conimon-sei'se way was to teaeli men how to eradicate the dr-eiso, which medical men said could easily be 'J should also b n taught ho<> to avoid tho <1 isc isc. Ho agreed that tho qiwvk should be suppressed by the most ngid means. On the liq/ior question he held that the section of the prohibition party was seizing on the ar as a pretext to acconijil'fh what otherwise it would bo unable to I secure. MINISTER IX r.EPLV. The Hon. Mr Herdinan. m reply, p°in'ed out that early closing would mean the dnmissal of a higo miniber of employeesrighf tlrroughout Nlw Zealand. Thn would flood tho whole labour market with idle iv -n. That would bo a, serious matter. lie coined in congratulating the Minister of Public Health on his bold and courageous speech, but tho matter that had boon principally discussed was the reguktion of the hoiu« of iliotck This discussion showed cloirly that tho prohibitnn p.irty had ni ulo ii.f occ'if-ion one for advocating its own Ho held that it was in-o:ig at such a irne to consider unjthing other than the proven tion of the war, and he ventured to that there woiild no\er liave been any bue'i as this except for tho presence of soldiers'in the large cities. It, was admitted even by the prohibitionists that theie had been very little drunkenness on their p-.rt. If this wero so, why was there any demind for a change? It "had been asserted that the nation was in the grip at prcs"nt of its greatest encmv—drink. If that were so. it had performed some remarkab'e feats in placing such a nan upon tho sea and such an army in the field as was now in Viancc. and also such an output of munitions as was recorded, besides financing very largely some of its Allies. These were remarkable feats for a nation in the grip of its strongest enemy. The real object of the prohib tionists was to take advantage of tho present position and clos3 the hotels as far as thf>y could, and tho facts did not warrant any such diastic change. 'J he e\ideneo of the police was that there wns no cause for any such change. 'I he mihtaiy evidence should carry weight. Colonel Pot ter and Colonel Ad'ms both declaied that it was in tho intenst-, ol the soldiers that tho hotels should remain open as at piesent, and. as tho Minister in charge of the police, ho endoibcd this mow. Tt a change were made, the condition of the soldicia in tho back streets would be far woise than at present. The gencr.'l atttitude of the early closing advocates was that the hotel door should be closed to the soldiers Well, where were they to go? Thsy should not deny to soldiers who woro going away to fight 1 for their country the little liberty that was thoiis. From the point of view of cfllcicncv, could it bo suiggeitcd that thcic was any lack of this on the part either of_ our soldiers or our civilian population? There was no evidence to jartify any -.uch claim. 'Ihen, as to the argument of economy, he asked : " Why select the hotels?" " What right had any class of people to mr.Le a special attack on one bu'inrs-. Picture "hows wore a waste, but would early closing apply to them? As for n referendum, he did not believe that the voice of the people was always light. At tho out-,et of tho war oompuKjijmilitary tiaining would have been iciected by tho people of Britain. There were limes when the opinion cf tho few was perhaps, sounder than that, of tho many. If temperance were to be secured it would be won by teaching joung men to bo splfreliant. and unless this was done our nation would be a weak one. The Bill was read a second time, and tho llouso adjourned at 11 40 r>.m.