SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17038, 23 June 1917, Page 7

SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING

PRESENTATION OF PETITION. VIEWS OF LOCAL MEMBERS OF PARIJAMENT. MAJORITY PROMISE SUPPORT. _ A largo and fairly representative gathering was held in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon for the purpose of presenting to the local members of Parliament the petition that has been in circulation for some time in favour of the 6 o'clock closing of hotel bars. The Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) presided, and tho members of the Legislature! present wero the Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., and Messrs T. K. Sidey, C. E. blnUiairi, and J. M. Dickson, M.P.'s. Tho Mayor, in introducing the deputation, which ho said represented a very largo number of electors of Dunedin and surrounding district, stated that a petition had been circulated asking that Parliament should carry into effect tho closing of hotel bars at 6 o'clock during the period of the torar. lie had been informed that the signatures wero so numerous that it was evident that throughout the district thero was a very strong feeling on this question. The local members of Parliament had generously agreed to receive tho petition and to present it to Parliament. It was unfortunate that two representatives wero not present. Mr A. Walker (member for Dunedin North) had left for the North Island preparatory to taking up his parliamentary duties in Wellington. Regarding Mr W. Downie Stewart, they_ all regretted very much that ho was suffering so severely as a result of his period of active service. They regretted, too, that his recovery was so slow, but it was gratifying to know that Mr Stewart hoped occasionally to bo able to take his seat in Parliament.—(Applause.) The Rev. R. S. Gray (Superintendent of the Six O'Clock Closing Petition) said that on behalf of the citizens who had this matter in hand he had communicated with Mr Walker, who had written promising his best support to the movement when it came beforo the Blouse. —(Applause.) He had also telegraphed to Mr Downie Stewart, who had sent the following reply:—" I shall be glad to present petition re 6 o'clock closing to Parliament, and support same. I have seen enough lately to convince mo that, as regards soldiers, most of the mischief occurs after 6 o'clock. I have been specially impressed by cases in which the treatment and recovery of convalescent soldiers has been seriously imperilled or pay forfeited. If conditions elsewhere are similar to what goes on in Rotorua, the need for restrictions is urgent. My attendance at House will be only occasional, my progress to health being very slow; but I hope to be able to comply with request."—(Loud applause.) Continuing, Mi Gray said those comprising the movement had made a canvass of Dunedin and' suburbs more or less carefully, with the result that 17,672 signatures had been secured. —(Applause.) Included in this total wore 841 names from Port Chalmers, 176 from SteaclifT and Warrington, and 31b from sundry other electorates. The total number of signatures received in the four city electorates was 16.337. Only m a com paratively few cases did the. canvassers meet with refusals, and in many of these instances those who declined were of the opinion that the petition was not nearly drastic enough. He urged the members of Parliament present that if they found themselves in any difficulty on this question When Parliament met—two or three solutions were suggested, such as_ 6 o'clock closing; prohibition for tho period of tho war and taxation —they should go right out to give the people an opportunity of expressing an opinion on it. He understood that the question of taxation, which was favoured by Mr Statham, had a great deal of support from members of Parliament, and a few prohibitionists. In the event of the non-success of the petition he wanted the members present to help the people to got an opportunity of expressing their opinion on this vital question. Mr D. C. Cameron, in presenting the petition to tho member for Dunedin South (Mr Sidey), said it seemed to him that if the present Government was alive to the best interests of the, people of this country it would have been quite unnecessary for them to beg, pray, and. petition Parliament to deal with the drink traffic. After briefly touching upon the economic and national importance of the liquor question whicli made prohibition an absolute necessity, Mr' Cameron stated that public opinion was very strongly behind the present demand.-—(Applause.) In his own opinion the triennial local option poll should bo taken as usual in November next in order to give the people an opportunity of expressing their views' on the matter. It hadl been stated that the trade was prepared to make an offer to close the liotel bars at 8 o'clock, but he trusted that Mr. Sidey and tho other local members would strongly resist that" proposal.—(Applause.) They wanted no compromise— ("Hear, Hear," and applause)—and would submit to no compromise.—(Applause.) The speaker concluded by calling attention to the widespread support the petition hadl met with in South Dunedin, and assured Mr Slidey that he enjoyed the complete confidence of the people of his electorate.— (Applause.) Mr A. H. Grinling was entrusted with the duty of presenting the petition from the electors of Dunedin Central to the member for that district (Mr Statham). In doing so, he askcdi Mr Statham to inform them whether ho would be willing— as the speaker presumed he was-r-to present the petition to and also whether or not he would be willing to support this measure in Parliament. If ha could not. see his way to _ support the petition, then they asked him to do his best to ensure that the people of the dominion should, have an opportunity to express their desires by means of a referendum. They would like a frank statement of his position in the matter, and hopedt he would be able to see his way to meet their wishes. He hardly needed to stress tho seriousness of the position. They all knew the rising tide of indignation of tho people of New Zealand against what appeared to be the rule of the drink traffic, and ho wished Mr Statham to know that his constituents shared these feelings. They were determined to leave no stone unturned to bring the rule of tho liquor traffic t-o an end. They had suffered under it too long, and now when the nation was engaged in a war of liberty they felt that New Zealand should be freed from its thraldom. They were intensely in earnest about tho matter, and felt very strongly about it; many of them being personally convinced) that the only real and permanent remedy would be found in total prohibition.—(Applause.) Mr Sidey began his reply by thanking Mr Cameron for the kind terms in which he had. presented the petition. He scarcely needed to say that he would be only too pleased to take charge of it, and present it to tho House. As they all knew, it depended entirely on the Government whether the members of Parliament were given an opportunity to vote on tho question or not. He, was in hopes that Parliament would extend more favourable consideration to this question than it did last year—(applause) and he assured them that any influence he could exert in that direction would be exerted.—(Loud applause.) In regard to the second question that had been put to him respecting an appeal to tho people by way of a referendum, ho had supported that proposal last session, and would be prepared to do so again.—(Applause.) IVIr Statham said he need hardly say that ho felt somewhat in the hands of the Philistines—(Laughter.) He would take charge of tho petition from his constituency, and present it to the House. He could not go tho_ length of promising to support that petition. Ho had already made his position clear to tho public, but he would promise them that their petition received fair play. (Applause.) Some of those present might be of the opinion that he talked out tho petition presented during last session, but he assured them that he did no such thing, but merely gave a resume to the House of what took place in committee. He would promise, so far as hi was personally concerned, that the petition got a fair hearing. "I am- afraid," said Mi- Statham, smiling, "to touch on any of the reasons advanced by me before. We aie all entitled to our opinions_ on various matters. lam only, too willing, if sacrifices have to be made, to make a sacrifice along with many others." A Voice: "How far will you go?" Mr Statham: "I am not going to answer any interjections of that kind. The whole question will have to be considered. lam not a prohibitionist " A Voice: "Morc's the pity." Continuing, Mr Statham said ho was perfectly willing that the people should have a referendum at tho end of this year. The Rev. Mr Hay: "When would it take effect? At the end of four years?" The Rev. Mr Gray: 'If we carried local no-license, then it would oome into -force in six months."

Mr Statham: "I think that at ; tho end of the threo years you should have a referendum on tho licensing issue. There are certain' things which should not be referred to the people at tho present time, when their minds are exercised by the war. For example, look at what took place in Australia in connection with the conscription referendum; and it does not always follow that you get justice with a referendum. I want to say how I will act upon a refer -

endum. An ordinary referendum at the end of the year will have my support."—(Applause.) r^^L S the proceedings, a hearty vote of thanks being accorded Mr Clark for presiding and for introducing the deputation.