EARLY CLOSING OF HOTEL BARS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14334, 26 June 1917, Page 7

EARLY CLOSING OF HOTEL BARS

THE SIX O'CLOCK PETITIONS. (Per Press Association.) Ca-HMSTOHURCH, last night. The Christchurch members of Parliament Avere presented to-day AAith petitions m favor of 6 o'clock closing of hotel bars. Mr Ell said the reforms should be looked on as a Avar measure, not as a prohibition movement. H\j Avas certain if Cabinet came doAvn with a 6 o'clock measure it Avould be carried. — Mr lsitt said he had. had a very hard i'oav to hoe. Last year AA'as one qf political expediency, ibut he belieA'ed a secret ballot m the House Avould haA-e carried 6 o'clock closing long ago. It Avas absolutely useless for the GoA'ernment to check vraste while they AvouJd not respond to the prayers of the people m the limiting of the chief waste. — Dr. Thacker said there were imany persons who were prepared to spill the last drop of other people's blood to Avin the Avar, bat would give little oi their own. To 'Svin the Avar" had become a Aveapon m the hands of many vicious reformers. What had NeAv Zealand done? They had been informed that the men of NeAv Zealand had proA'ed themselves at Messines tbe greatest soldiers the Avorld had ever produced. There could, therefore, be no doubt as to the efficiency of the men. He Avould present the petition, but would not support it. At the 6 o'clock hotel closing deputation to the Christchurch members of Parliament to-day, the Mayor, Mr Holland, said there was far 1100 much drinking on < the Welilingteui-Lyttelton. ferry steamers* Could not something bo done to stop that? — Mr lsitt said the Union Company authorities should be approached regarding the matter, and he thought a resolution from the meeting Avouid do good.— On the motion of the Rev. J. Paterson, it was decided to communicate Avith the company on the subject. 'JTMARU, last night, A petition to Parliament m favor of 6 o'clock closing, containing 3545 signatures, was presented to-day to Mr Oraigie, member for Timaru, who said that last session he fought for 8 o'clock, and on tho 'publicans opposing he Raid they Avould pet something more drastic. Ho hoped Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward had returned ready to say at once they Avould agrea to 6 o'clock. Mr Craigie spoke with painful regret of the drinking among young soldiers m Wellington. Government or no Government something had to be done to stop it. At a public meeting to-night a petition bearing -3164 signatures praying for the closing of bars of hotels and clubs at 6 o'clock durine the war, was presented to Mr Field, M.P., who intimated that he would support the proposal. Mr Talbot, M.P. for Temuka,, also received a petition of about 1500 nam.es. He said he would support it. The question of justice to the licensees must be considered, also the wholesale trade. HAMILTON, this day. A petition signed by 3039 electors, praying for the -closing of hotel bars at six o'clock as a Avar measure, Avas presented yesterday to Mr J. A. Young, member for Waikato, at a largely attended meeting whereat the Mayor presided. Including the Cambridge petition a total of 4364 names m the Waikato electorate favor the proposal. Mr Young said he was m hearty accord, and stood fully prepared to support tbe petition ivhen the opportunity offered.