THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5259, 15 May 1895, Page 2

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

A SHARP CORRESPONDENCE. [keom oub special cobbkspondknt.l

WELLINGTON, May 15.

The Times publishes communications between Mr Crowther, M.H.8., and the Premier, respecting the half-holiday in Auckland. In his first letter Mr Crowther draws attention to a resolution passed at a public meeting on May 7, and adds :— "Considering the present state of feeling in Auckland, I strongly recommend you to comply with their request, thereby quieting the enmity that at present exists."

In reply, the Premier, while regretting that there should have been any friction or enmity created, says :— " In asking the Government to defer action with respect to the working of the Act in Auckland, you ask for that which is illegal and unconstitutional. Parliament is supreme, and Parliament, in passing the law, did nob give the Government power to suspend it." He then draws an analogy between the provisions of the Licensing | Act compelling publicans to close on Sundays, and askß, " What would be Baid if the Government, in defiance of the law, should permit the hotels in Auckland to remain open on Sundays and sell liquor during prohibited hours P" He concludes, " If those who had the fixing of the halfholiday in Auckland have misinterpreted the wishes of the community, and have thereby entailed hardship and caused enmity, it is they who are to blame, not the Government."

To thia Mr Crowther replied by asking what connection there is between the halfholiday question and hotels being allowed to open on Sundays. " I did not v xpect you to eqiivbcaW «c eaje, ana |i.dde, that further prosecutions will be bitterly and continuously fought. The Premier, in reply, said, " Like yourself I generally call a spade a spade, and I did not equivocate in my telegram to you." He then proceeds to show the analogy between the two matters, and concludes, "The Gmrnaent ie simply an administrator, and it ia not for ifc to interpret." Beferring to the correspondence in its hading columns, the Times, says :— " Mr Crowther appears to labour under the singular delusion that the Govern-

ment of the country can be cirriid on by resolutions of public meetings. According to his idea we need not trouble about the referendum, for we have one of a very efficient character. When the law is inconvenient to any section of the community, all that section

has to do is to assemble in public meeting and. order the Government to suspend the law until members of Parliament have an opportunity of earning their salaries by altering the law to suic the wishes of the public meeting. Fortunately there is only one Mr Crowther in the colony, and he han bad his answer. He talks as if minded to gat up a mild sort of revolution, but he cannot get xid of the very awkward fact that the whole trouble of which be and his friends complain has been brought about by the Auckland City Council."