DRINK AND THE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 19

DRINK AND THE WAR.

QUESTION OF 6 O'CLOCK CLOSING. CARRIED BY PARLIAMENT. (FroikOur Own Cobrespondent.) WELLINGTON, September 18. The procession to Parliament organised by the Six O'clock Closing Party aroused a considerable amount of interest in the city this afternoon. When the time for speech-making arrived between 4000 and 5000 people had assembled in Parliament Grounds. It was a good-humoured, though rather no.isy, crowd, and it soon became evident that a section of it was determined to get as much fun as possible out of the proceedings. The deputation to Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward was introduced by Dr Newman, who said all parts of the dominion were represented, including a delegation of 21 business men from Auckland. land. The speakers were: —Rev P. S. Smithfield (Auckland), Messrs A. R. Atkinson (Wellington), Holland (Mayor of Christchureh, and Mrs J. Court (Auokland). The Prime Minister, in reply, said he had promised a Liquor Bill soon after his return from England, and that promise had been kept. No Liquor Bill which had ever been introduced in Parliament would have such a straight run as this one. No influence had been used, and none would be used until the Bill was finished with. Every member would be free to vote according to his convictions, and the Government would accept the result. Some people said the Government had done nothing to restrict the liquor traffic during the war. Last session they had passed the anti-shouting law.— (Derisive laughter.) " Will you have it off the Statute Book?" asked Mr Massey. "I challenge you' to answer. You do not know what good it has done." Sir Joseph Ward did not speak, and the gathering terminated after singing the National Anthem, followed by three cheers for 6 o'clock closing. BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE. (From Oub Own Correspondent) WELLINGTON, September 18. The parts of the House of Representatives set aside for the public were crowded in every part to-night, when the Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill. There had been a great demand for admission tickets, and the accommodation was not sufficient for half those who desired to hear the debate. There was much crushing around the doors, and when Mr Massey commenced to speak a determined effort was made to force a way in by one of the doors, the attendants having some difficulty in keeping back the intruders. The shrieking of women could be heard, and the Speaker's attention was called to the disorder. The Speaker threatened to have the galleries cleared unless order was maintained, and eventually those who were unable to gain admission appeared to have accepted the inevitable, and the proceedings went on without further interruption, as far as the

public were concerned. There was a very large attendance of members, and as Mr Massey went on with his speech it soon became evident that he was addressing a keenlv-interested House. Mr" Massey admitted that the reduction of hours proposed in the Bill would not satisfy an extreme section of the rmblic. "We feel we are doing right," he said. "I feel that I am doing right, though some pretty hard things have been said in some of the papers during the past two or three weeks." They had to remember that the licensing trade was legitimate. Supposing that at the last election the prohibitionists had won, and now the other side were agitating for an extension of the hours, would they expect the Cabinet to deal with the question without taking time fully to discuss it? They must remember that a large section of the community was in the habit of frequenting hotel _ bars and clubs for the purpose of social intercourse, and these people resented what was proposed in the Bill. Besides several deputations, he had received correspondence from many industrial unions, which he named, protesting against early closing. These unions were circularised by the Hotel Workers' Union. The summary was:—26 against early closing, 18 no action, one in favour of a referendum, and one in favour of 6 o'clock closing. Some of the unions showed that the early closing of hotels would result in unemployment. Mr Massey also road a letter expressing the strong feeling of chartered clubs against early closing, and stating that many of them would in the event of such have to close down. The Prime Minister said there could be little doubt that there was a strong division of feeling on the question in the country. It had been stated that the anti-treating regulations were a farce. Would members support their abolition? Mr Anderson: Why should we etrike them out? Mr Massey: Yes, why? The Prime Minister quoted the opinion of an opponent of his —a 6 o'clock closing advocate —who stated that since the introduction of the regulations the number of soldiers under the influence of liquor in the streets was much less than previously. Mr Massey quoted figures in support of his claim that since the anti-treating, regulations had come into force the number of convictions for drunkenness had materially decreased. He claimed that the National Government had done its full share in the direction of temperance reform, and said New Zealand would be fully abreast of other countries if the proposal contained in the Bill was adopted. The two hours —from 8 to 10 p.m. —that the Government proposed to cut out were the most profitable of the day to the hotolkeepers. He did not like the idea of a referendum. He was not referring to the triennial licensing poll. Members were oharged with the enactment of laws, and if a member of Parliament was not prepared to go into the lobby and vot* he did not deserve to hold his scat. He eritioised the Efficiency Board's proposal to allow one late n'crht per wook for hotr-ls The Government's hours were 66 per week, and the Efficiency's Board's hours were 58. He admitted that he had seen soldiers in the streets of Wellington under the influence of liquor, but he gave an absolute denial to the statement that every day hundreds of drunken sold-ors werd tn _ b<? Been. Soldiers were entitled to protection, but no more than other members of the Community. As to the question of finance,

the Cabinet during the last few days had been considering proposals which would lead it this session to ask Parliament to agree to a proposed payment approximately of £700,000, and probably more. Say the introduction of 8 o'clock closing meant a reduction in the country's revenue of £300,000, these two figures would mean £1,000,000 for the dominion to find. The Government had been subjected to a good deal of abuse from the people. He hoped that when the Bill was passed members ot ■the House and the public would not allow their cordial relations to bo disturbed by differences which arose in connection with the measure. OTHER MEMBERS' VIEWS. Mr Hornsby, who stated that he was in favour of 6 o'clock closing, deplored the fact that nothing was contained in the Bill" allowing licensees of hotels to apply for a reduction of rent or for modifications of the conditions of tenancy on the ground of hardship caused by the restricted hours of sale. Mr Harris asked the Government why, seeing that nearly 200,000 electors had asked that the bars should be closed at 6 o'clock, it fixed on 8 o'clock. The trade dared not get up a petition to Parliament. Mr Isitt said the Prime Minister had stated that they must stand t between the two parties. ' That was not his (Mr Isitt's) idea. A bold course was necessary for the better efficiency of the country to help it in winning the war. As far as drink and gambling were concerned the Govermnent had simply gone as far as it had been shoved by the people. If the National Government had any conception of the good that could be done by suppressing the liquor evil it would have brought down a Bill that would have encouraged the House. The voting would be ; very close, but two or three members had indicated their intention to accept whatever proposal the Government brought down, so that very likely the onus of the whole business lay on the Government. If the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward had brought in a Bill for 6 o'clock closing no one doubted that it would have been carried. The House wanted some adjustment of the rents between landlords and licensees, and he was even prepared to concede some reduction in the £4O licensing fee, but beyond that he was absolutely opposed to any compensation being- granted. Every licensee in taking out his license had always understood that it was subject to any action on the part of the State for the public good. The State had never understood that the hotel was an adjunct to a license, but that the license was an adjunct to a bar. Other trades had suffered loss through an alteration in the hours in which they were allowed to do business. Business places had suffered loss through the change in the half-holiday from Thursday to Saturday, but they did not secure compensation. _ On what special grounds, then, did the licensing trade claim a special privilege? Mr Lee stated that last year the whole of the Cabinet with two exceptions was diametrically opposed to these reforms. Was it, therefore, possible for the Cabinet to accede to them to-day without a struggle ? As a result the 8 o'clock proposal had been dragged out of it. Mr Payne said he belonged to an Empire on which the sun never sets, and in which the "pubs" never shut.—(Laughter.) People said that closing at 6 o'clock was going to help to win the war. When the Kaiser saw what we were- going to do he would say to his son: "Willie, my boy, the game's up." If wo closed at 8 o'clock the Kaiser would say: "Willie, my boy, we must close at 7." And if they did that they would win the war, instead of us. The country which closed down most early would win the war. —(Laughter.) That was the argument that the prohibitionists were placing before members that night. It was all humbug. He would not, however, vote for the Bill. The only thing he would vote for was effective State control. SECOND READING OF BILL CARRIED. WELLINGTON, September 19. The debate on the second reading of the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill was continued this afternoon. Mr Poole said the National Cabinet was one of the strongest pieces of political machinery that had ever controlled the destinies of any country. The Government had called on the National Efficiency Board for its advice, but its recommendations were regarded as a kind of insult, and the board had sent in its resignation. It had made itg recommendation regarding the liquor traffic, and had met with a rebuff. Mr Herdman stated that if the hon. gentleman just speaking wanted national efficiency he should not advocate 6 o'clock closing, because that would mean keeping the hotels open when men were at work, and thus tempting them to leave their work, and shutting the hotels when the hours of work were over. Ho considered that some control over the hotels was necessary when transports were leaving or arriving at out ports. He stigmatised the prohibition party's proposal as an unwarrantable interference with the private rights of people. It was a violation of the principles of fairplay, and- a violation of the principles of justice. Ho admitted frankly that while the country was at war it was necessary to have sobriety, but he maintained that sobriety existed. All the speeches mado the evening before had led the public to believe that this perennial contest, which had been going on for 20 years, had been between the prohibitionists and the hotelkeepers and brewers. Ho opposed that suggestion. The contest had been _ between those people who ventured to believe that some freedom should remain' to the community and the prohibitionists.—("Hear, hear.") Ho had no interest in breweries or hotels, and had nothing to do with them, but no member of the House had the right to dictate to him • what his private habits should be. He denied the right of the nolicense party to place tho whole of the people in this country in a strait waistcoat. We had a right to formulate our own private habits. Ho declared that it was a piece of impertinence on the part of the no-license peoplo to dictate to him or other members of tho community their private right. Mr Isitt: Can yon still a little whisky in your home? Mr Herdman: That is another matter altogether. Ho went on to state that it would be an insult to the soldiers who were fighting for the country to eay to them they wore not men, but children. He contended that the position of things was intolerable, and ho thought tho timo had arrived when the liberty-loving persons in the community should rise in rebellion. — (Laughter.) The time had arrived when

the liberty-loving portion of the community should «rise in -.ebellion against a despotic section of the community who thought that nothing less than no license would settle all questions. Members: It is not the no-license people. Mr Herdman: Who is behind it, then ? Ever since the war began he felt confident that the no-liconso people had been trying to make use of the war to advance their own propositions. Who were the business men behind them? None but their own supporters. There was no need for 8 o'clock closing. He would vote for 10 o'clock closing if he had his own way. ' This statement evoked so many interjections t-hat the Speaker had to call on members to restrain themselves.

_, Mr Herdman said the only additional restrictive measure needed was to give the Government power to close hotels when troopships arrived, as friends of soldiers and hero-worshippers placed temptations in the way of soldiers that were very hard to resist. The- decrease that had taken place in crime showed that there was no need for further restrictive legislation. Referring to the anti-shouting law, Mr Herdman said he had done his best to see that the police did their duty. He was told that in Auckland the regulation was strictly enforced, and he quoted statistics to show that the police had generally shown very considerable activity. The denial of the right of compensation was a serious blot on the scheme of the prohibitionists. It was an injustice. Mr Isitt had endeavoured to make a strong point of the Prime Minister's statement that 6 o'clock closing would mean a diminution of the State's income to the extent of £500,000. Mr Isitt asserted that this meant a saving to the public of £2,000.000, but the force of .the argument rested on the assumption that the money would not be spent in other extravagances. Mr Herdman said he believed the day was coming, and was not far distant, when the State would take control of the liquor traffic and eliminate the element of pereonal gain. Dr Thacker said there were as good citizens amongst the trade and those who drank alcohol as amongst those who did mot drink alcohol. Mr Pan. 1 stated that after listening to the Attorney-general one could well understand how difficult it was for the Cabinet to deal with this problem and how difficult it would 1 to bring down a 6 o'clock Bill. Mr Jennings said he preferred to see the liquor trade abolished altogether unless it WC'S under some control.

Mr Pearee said ho was a supporter of 6 o'clock closing whilst the war was on. Mr Wright denied that the origin of the 6 o'clock closing movement came from the inner circle of the Prohibition Party. Mr E. Newman said he was not a, prohibitionist, and had never allied himself with the Prohibition Party. He asked himself what effect the proposals of the Bill would have in enabling us to do our share in winning the war. He would like to see the Government prohibit the importation of spirits from the Old Country.— (" Hear, heart") Every gallon of spirits consumed lessened the efficiency of the con-" sumer. /

The Hon. G. TV. Russell said the sacrifice the people of the country were asked to make under the Bill was the giving up of a few hours' drinking every, day. What was this compared with the sacrifices made by our soldiers at the front and their fathers and mothers?

Mr Witty alleged that in a petition which ho produced five names were signed by the one man. In other cases three and two names were signed by the one person. He submitted that the 200,000 signatures on the petition could _be reduced to 140,000. If a general election had been held this year there would have been no necessity for the Bill. He had introduced a Bill providing for the holding of a general election. Mr Webb said he considered that, in view of the wire-pulling going on in Parliament on behalf of both sides, a referendum was the best way to settle this and all questions. He did not say State control was a solution of the question, but it met with his views. Mr Wilkinson spoke in favour of 6 o'clock closing. ' Mr Sykes said his electors had his pledge that he" would vote for 6 o'clock closing. Mr Ell said there was not the slightest doubt that if / a vote of the people were taken a large-majority would be in favour of 6 o'clock closing The second reading of the Bill was carried on the voices. SIX O'CLOCK ADOPTED.

WELLINGTON, September 20. The Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill came up. for further consideration in the House of Representatives this afternoon'. There was a large attendance of members, and the keenest interest was displayed in the proceedings. Members were aware that the real trial of strength was at hand, and until the first division was taken there was the greatest uncertainty as to what the result would be. When the Bill went inso Committee the first clause, on which a general debate was expected, went on the voices without a remark. On the second clause, Mr Anderson moved at once to strike out the word "eight," and the crucial division was taken forthwith. The amendment was agreed to by 41 votes to 28. Following was the division list: For 8 o'clock (28).—Bollard, Brown, Buick, Sir J. Carroll, Colvin, J. S. Dickson, W. H. Field, Fletcher, Fraser, Glover, Henare, Herdman, Herries, Hudson, M'Callum, MacDonald, Massey. Myers, Parata, Payne, Pomare, Reed, T. W. Rhodes, Scott, R. W. Smith, Thacker, Witty, Sir J. G. Ward.

Against 8 o'clock (41). —Sir J. Allen, Anderson, Anstey, Buddo, Craigie, Dickie, J. M. Dickson, Ell, T. A. H. Field, Forbes, Guthrie, Hanan, Harris, Hindmarsh, Hornsby, Hunter, Isitt, Lee, M'Combs, Mander, A. K. Newman, E. Newman, Nosworthy, Parr, Pearce, Poland, Poole, R. H. Rhodes, Russell, Sidoy, G. H. Smith, Statham, Sykes, Talbot, Thomson, Veitch, "Walker, Webb, Wilkinson, Wright, Young. _ The House was buzzing with excited conversation when the division was in progress, and when the announcement was made the supporters of 6 o'clock wore smiling faces, and they cheered joyously. The Prime Minister at one© rose to make a statement. "In moving the second reading of the Bill," lie said, "I promised that no influence would bo used on any members as to how they should vote. That promise has been faithfully kept.—("Hear, hear.'') The vote has gone against the particular proposal in the Bill which was the point of controversy, and I accept the division of the House on behalf of the Government. Now, Mr Malcolm, I propose to insert 'six.' " —(Loud applause.)

Mr Witty said he wished to move to insert "nine," and asked priority for his amendment. The Chairman ruled that the amendment could not have priority, and "six" remained the question. The Prime Minister: I hope that when tho Bill goes'on the Statute Book it will put an end to the unrest that the House and tho country have experienced during the past few weks, and especially during the last few days. I want to remind hon. members of something I said when moving the second reading a day or two ago, ass to the steps that would have io be taken to settle this continual agitation. I want to tell tho Hoase that I am firmly impressed with the idea that we will have to do something on the lines proposed by the Efficiency Board—that the country will have to be given an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the issue of continuance on the one side and prohibition and the payment of compensation on tho other. I would even suggest that the decision be by a bare majority. I will not go so far as to express an opinion on this point, because it has not been decided by the Cabinet, but it is a point that has been under consideration. THE FINANCIAL POSITION. Sir Joseph Ward said he agreed with the opinions expressed by the Prime Minister regarding this very far-reaching matter. The House had made up its mind to effect

a- great change in tho hours for tho closing of hotels in this country. He was of opinion that the people should havo an opportunity of deciding this issue within the next six months. Ho did not want to sea tho issue decided after the war, but de- 1 cided as soon as possible. It was not a fair thing for many hon. members of tho House to put him in tho position of havingto resiet proposals which would involve loss of revenue. There was a feeling that bocause of the saving that would bo effected by a change in the law decreasing the consumption of liquors the loss of Customs re-. venuo would be easily restored. It would bo idle for any hon. member with tha best of intentions to try to convince tha Minister of .Finance that he would b© ablo to get his revenue in eome way because of the increased prosperity of tho people and , because of their increased savings. It was, in his opinion, imperative for tho people to come to a definite decision on; tho issue of prohibition or no prohibition. Bufc it was no use when the country was hysterical, as it was at present, running away with the idea that the money wo were now losing in the Treasury was to bo provided in some general way. Whoever was Minister of Finance would certainly have to get ) the authority of Parliament for the collection of revenue to make up the loss of Custoins duty. When tho recommendations of } the Efficiency Board, with which he was ia, complete accord, were submitted to tha

people the people would be responsible for thechange to be made. SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING CARRIED. The Prime Minister's amendment was agreed to by 44 votes to 26. Following was the division list-; — ; Ayes (44) —Sir J. Allen, Anderson, Anstey, : Buddo, Craigie, J. M. Dickson, J. S. Dickson, Ell, T. A. H. Field, W. H. Field, Fraser, Guthrie, Han an, Harris, Hindmarsh, ; Hornsby, Hunter, Isitt, Lee, M'Combs, • Mander, Massey, Myers, A. K. Newman, E. . Newman, Nosworthy. Okey, Parr, Pearee, ! Po!?nd, Poole, R. H. Rhodes, T. W. Rhodes, Russell, Sidey, G. H. Smith, Sykes, ! Talbot. Thomson. Veitch, Walker, Wilkinson, Wright, Young. Mr Hanan's name j was ordered subsequently to bo added to the list. j Noes (26)—Bollard, Brown, Buick, Sir J. Carroll, Colvin, Dickie, Fletcher. Forbe?, j Glover. Henare, Herdman, Herries, Hud- : son, M'Oallum, MacDonald. Parata, Pavne, Pomaro, Reed, Scott, R, W. Smith. Statham, Thackcr, Sir J. G. Ward, Webb, Witty,,, Mr Witty moved a new clause, with the object of repealing the pnti-shoiiting law He said it was only fair, and ho hoped the Prime Minister would accept it. Tiic amendment was defeated by 47 votes to 21, the division list being as follows: — ■ For the amendment (21) —Brown. Buick. Sir. J. Carroll. Colvin, J. S. Dickson, Fletcher, Fprhes. Glover, Herdman, Herries Hornsbv. M.'Cnllum. MacDonald. Parata, ; Pavne. Pearee. Thacker, Veitch, Sir J. G. Ward.; Webb. Witty. : . Against the amendment (47) —Pir J. Allen, Anderson. Anstcv. Bollard. Buddo, Craigie, Dickie. J. M. Dickson, Ell, T. A. Field, j Guthrie, Harris. Honnre. Hindmarsh. Hudson. Hunter. Isitt. Lee. M'Combs, Mander, Massey. Myers. A. K. Newman. E. New- ! man. Nosworthv. Okev. Parr, Poland. Po- I mare. Poole. Reed. R. H. Rhodes. T. W. j Rhodes, Russell, Scott. Sidey. G. H. Smith, R. W. Smith. Statham. Sykes, Tnlbot, . Thomson, Walker. Wilkinson, Wright, j Youns;. OF RENT. Mr Massey moved the following new clnnse:—".Ever'v licensee .of licensed premises (not being the owner thereof within tho meaning of ' The Licensing Act. 1902') miv nt nnv ti"'e before the Ist day of February, 1918. by notice in writing served on the owner, require the owner to reduce the rent payable by the licensee in respect of the premises pursuant to any lease to such amount as may be specified in tho notice or in the discretion of tho owner to

-accept a surrender by the licensee of the leaso on payment to the licensee of: (a) A proportionate part of any bonus or premium that may have been paid by the licensee to the owner or any other person in consideration of the grant of the lease calculated by reference to the proportion which the unexpired portion of the term of such lease bears to the whole term of the lease; and (b) the value of the furniture and stock-in-trade of the licensee to be ascertained in case of dispute by arbitration under ' The Arbitration Act, 1908.' If the owner of the premises does not within 14 days after service on him of any such notice as aforesaid either (a) reduce the rent to the amount specified in the notice or (b) accept a. surrender of the lease as aforesaid, the licensee may apply to the Licensing- Committee for an orcfer reducing the rent on the ground that the rent as fixed by the lease is inequitable, having regard to the reduction of the hours during which the licensed promises may keep open. On any application being made under this section the Licensing Committee shall thereupon have jurisdiction to hear and determine' the same, and may if it thinks fit reduce the-rent payable by the licensee to such amount as it deems just and equitable in the circumstances. At the hearing of any such application tho applicant and the owner and any other person or persons whom the Licensing Committee may deem to be interested in the subject matter of the application under this section may appear personally or by counsel. The provisions of ' The Licensing Act, 1908,' relating to the conduct of meetings of a Licensing Committee, shall, so far as applicable, apply to meetings of tho committee for the purposes of any application under this section, and in so far as such provisions do not apply the committee may determino its own procedure. Every order made by a Licensing Committee under this section shall have effect according to its tenor; and ehall take effect as from the date of the service on tho owner of a notice requiring him to reduce the rent ; and shall continue in force during the continuance of the lease or for the duration of this Act, whichever period is tho shorter, and the terms of the leaso shall bo deemed to be modified accordingly. For tho purpose of this section tho term ' lease' includes an agreement for a lease and any other tenancy." Several members did not consider a Liconsing_ Committee the best authority for adjudicating on the complex issues between owner and licensee. Trained minds were necessary, and it was suggested that the determining tribunal should be composed of magistrates or a Supreme Court judge. The Prime Minister stated that after listening 'to the debate he had come to the conclusion that a magistrate would bo the best tribunal, but the alteration would mean the recasting of the Bill. He suggested that the clause be allowed to go to tlie Legislative Council as it stood and there be placed before the Statutes Revision Committee, whose amendment the House would have an opportunity of considering. This course was approved by members, and the clause was passed on the voices. REFUND OF RATES. The Prime Minister then moved the following now clause: " Where tho rent payable in respect of any licensed premises has been reduced pursuant to the last preceding section the occupier of those xaremises within the meaning of "The Rating Act, 1908," shall, if tho premises are situated in a district in which the system of rating on the annual value is in force, be entitled to claim a refund from tho local authority of a portion of tho rates paid in respect of thoso premises for tho period elapsing between November 1, 1917, and the end of the period for which rates were levied. The refund to be made pursuant to this section shall be computed so that the amount of rates paid for the period aforesaid in respect of the premises shall bear tho same proportion to the rates levied as the annual amount by which tho rent of these premises has been reduced bears to tho total annual amount of rent as fixed by the lease. If any rates in respect of the period aforesaid have not been paid the local authority shall be entitled to recover only an amount equal to tho difference between the total amount levied and the amount of the refund

to which the occupier would be entitled under this section if the full amount of rates had been paid. Mr M'Combs said the annual value on which rates were levied was not the actual annual charge which the licensee had to pay.

Mr Massey said he realised that this was a strong point, and he would arrange for submission of such a question to the tribunal to be appointed. He would arrange for the clause to bo examined by the Statutes Revision Committee of tho Council.

The clause was then passed. The Prime Minister stated that he could not at the moment accept a clause suggested by Mr Hornsby preventing the obtaining of liquor in bulk by sly-grog places and dens of prostitution. He would look into the matter and consult legal authorities to see what could be done.

The third reading was then_ taken, and the Bill was passed on the voices without discussion.

The House adjourned at 8.48 p.m. The rapid passage of the Bill was in a very largo measure due to tho tact and food generalship of the Prime Minister. [e had a very difficult problem to handle. Feeling had been running very high, both in the House and in the country, and Mr Massey determined to do his best to avoid any unnecessary prolongation of tho prevailing excitement. Ho decided to go right through with the Bill, and he succeeded in piloting it through all its stages at a surprisingly rapid rate. He can fairly claim that every promise he made regarding the Bill has been fairly kept. Ho declared that every Minister and member would be free to vote in accordance with his convictions, and he promised to accept and act upon the decision of the majority. As soon as 8 o'clock was struck out of tho Bill Mr Massey moved to insert 6 o'clock. His opinion was that 7 o'clock would bo no good to anyone. If he had declared for 7 o'clock it is almost certain that it would have been carried, and many of the supporters of 6 o'clock closing were of opinion that a 7 o'clock compromise would have been the final result. As soon as the closing hour was fixed the remaining clauses of the Bill were passed without much discussion, and the House readily agreed to IMr Massey's suggestion that the third reading be taken forthwith. There wero no further speeches, and the third reading was carried on the voices. It was quite plain that the House was glad to bring the debate to an end and get rid of a very difficult and delicate question. The Bill is not likely to bo materially amended bv the Legislative Council, where a majority in favour of 6 o'clock is assured. MEETING IN DUNEDIN. A public meeting initiated by the United Temperance Reform Council in connection with tho 6 o'clock closing movement was held in Burns Hall on the 20th. the attendance being large. Naturally, the addresses given were not in view of the altered asn'ect of affairs in Wellington, just on the lines originally intended, and this was freely stated by the speakers of tho evening, stated 6y the speakers of tho evening. A motion as carried expressing satisfaction at the adoption of 6 o'clock closing, and urging that tho Government introduce a separate Bill giving effect to the recommendations of the Efficiency Board. POSITION OF LICENSEE OWNERS. QUESTION 0:F COMPENSATION RAISED. WELLINGTON, September 21. A number of hotel licensees owning their properties waited as a deputation on tho Prime Minister to-day to state tho position as to hotel values and discuss the question of relief in tho way of compensation. It was stated that to reduce the hours would ruin some licensee-owners. A record of the takings in some cases showed that 40 to 60 per cent, was received between the hours of 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. A curtailment of houre without compensation was equivalent to tho confiscation of then- property. If

the Licensing Bill was put on the Statute Book a clause should be included providing: for compensation for the ownor-licensecs on a basis to be assessed by the Compensation Court.

Mr Massey eaid ho was sorry the position of publicans, especially freeholders, had not been placed before the House. He assured the deputation that those concerned would be given an opportunity to place their views before the Statutes Revision Committee prior to the Bill being dealt with by the Legislative Council.