EARLY CLOSING OF HOTELS

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 19

EARLY CLOSING OF HOTELS

SYDNEY, May 31. The secretary of the Federated Liquor Trades Unions claims that six o'clock closing would mean throwing out of employment from 3000 to 5000 men and women in New South Wales. The Alliance replies that there will be an improvement in other avenues of work resulting from carrying six o'clock closing, and there will be no difficulty in absorbing any thrown out of work. The Alliance asks : Would the Political Labour League Conference have carried a resolution in favour of six o'clock if the cause of the workers would suffer thereby ? The Morning Herald, in a leading article, accepts the referendum as a war precautionary measure. It advocates six o'clock closing straight out, and says it has been proved to demonstration that the free use of liquor saps discipline, weakens the resolution, and undermines the constitution of those going to the front. A sharp distinction must be drawn between what is fair and proper in times of peace and in times of war. While so serious a struggle is now raging in Europe, we can afford to take no avoidable risks June 1. A number of influential doctors have signed the appeal for 6 o'clock closing, having proved beyond doubt that indis criminate drinking is responsible for much military inefficiency.