THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1916. EARLY CLOSING OF HOTELS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16752, 21 July 1916, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1916. EARLY CLOSING OF HOTELS.

The speech in which the Attorneygeneral moved the second reading of the War Regulations Bill in the House of Representatives has, in its references to tho proposal to restrict the facilities for the sale of liquor in hotels, been described as "dexterous special pleading." Mr Herdman certainly gave its full force to the argument that by the result of the licensing poll which was held in 1914, four months after the outbreak of the war, and which produced a declaration by tho electors in favour of the continuance fo/ three years (subject to tha provisions of tho Licensing Act) of all licences for the sale of liquor, rights wero established that have to Le respected. It is not putting it too strongly to say that the deci&icn of the electors at that time created a contract between the State and the holders of licenses that they would not be disturbed in the prosecution of their trade during, the period of three years for which their licenses were extended. In these circumstances, it is obvious that ths onus of proving that a curtailment of the hours for the retail sale of drink is necessary lies upon those who desire the imposition of restrictions. It was said in the House on Wednesday night by Mr Poole, himself a prohibitionist, that the demand for early closing was being made on behalf of the soldiers. If that were actually the case, it might be disregarded with very little hesitation. A demand based on such a consideration would have to be confined to the districts in which the mobilisation and training camps are situated. But the petitioners for the early closing of hotels do not place any such limits ujjoii their plea. And, in any case, the evidence seems to show fairly conclusively that there is no justification for a curtailment of the hours of sale in the interest of the welfare of the soldiers. The claim of the petitioners really rests upon a much more substantial ground than this—namely, upon the ground "Miat it is important, even imperative, that the resources, physical and financial, of the country should be husbanded and that the expenditure on drink, which may be said to amount in round figures to four millions per annum in New Zealand, is harmful to the extent that it diminishes efficiency and is wasteful to the extent that there is no need for it. This is an argument which is certainly im-irer-sive and which appeals at a time like this to a great many people who are wholly unsympathetic to any proposal for the prohibition of the liquor traffic. Only within the past few days the Chancellor of the Exchequer has denounced extravagance and waste as being treason to the nation in the hour when it is confronted with financial problems of a gigantic order. As it is impossible to contend that the expenditure on drink is not, in the main, extravagant and wasteful, we must conclude, if we accept Mr M'Kenna's dictum, that the person who pays away money for the gratification of his appeute for alcohol is an enemy to his country. We should hesitate to go so far as necessarily to affix such a stigma upon him. But there can be no doubt that heia squandering his money foolishly and perhaps also impairing his efficiency. Wo need hardly say that a voluntary curtailment by the individual of his expenditure upon liquor would, in our judgment, be much preferable to the imposition of a legal restriction upon tho authorised sale of drink, but we again suggest, as we have already done, chab, having regard to the national interests and to the strength of the public feeling in favour of the curtailment of the hours for which the hotels are open, tho licensed victuallers might reasonably offer a compromise that would meet tho views of the petitioners for early closing. The question of compensation to the publicans, if the hours for tho sale of liquor are reduced, lias been raised. It may be arguable whether, if the eaily closing of hotels can be put on the footing of a war necessity, any claim for compensation would be triable. But it seems to be not impos&iblt that compensation in kind of a very substantial nature m»y be obtainable by '' the trade." We do not profess to be in tho confidence oi the Government in tli3 matter, but, if any prolongation of the duration of the present Parliament be contemplated by it so that the genera] election and the next licencing poll should be poMponed for twelve months, the extra year's freedom from the risk of interference with their business that

would be secured by the publicans should bo sufficient to compensate Ihem reasonably for any Joss they midlife su&tam through a temporary curtailment of tho hours during which the hotel bars may be open. An extension of the life of Parliament is, however, a contingency regarding which it would be unwise to speculate in existing circumstances. Any pioposal with that object in view would 1)0 warranted only by entirely exceptional circumstances which cannot be truthfully said to have yet arisen.