EARLY CLOSING OF HOTEL BARS.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 242, 18 August 1915, Page 11

EARLY CLOSING OF HOTEL BARS.

During the present war it has been conclusively proved that alcohol is a great enemy to national efficiency. Russia has gone in for prohibition of vodka, and France of absinthe. Great Britain has shortened the hours for the sale of liquor. South Australia carried 0 o’clock closing by a large majority. New South Wales is working for early closing, and is magnificently led by the N.S.W. Alliance. Queensland and \ ictori.i are moving in the same direction. We have prided ourselves that New Zealand leads the way in temperance reform, but we can do so no longer. Not a single pub’ic man has announced his intention ot following the King’s example and banishing strong drink from his household. The Houses of Parliament, voting by ballot, decided not to ( lose the bar at Bellamy’s during the war. Then occurred .1 state of affairs here which we never have had before. People asking in bewilderment why the temperance people of New Zealand were lagging behind, and not pressing for early closing. The W.C.T.U. decided to give people an opportunity of asking the Government to close hotel bars at 6 p.m. daily. Ihe time allowed for the petition was short, but people everywhere were anxious to sign, canvassers announcing only about 2 per cent, of failures. We are hoping and praying for suecv . Surely when all other British Lininions are moving in this direction v.’e will not be content to be left behind. But whether we succeed or fail, we have tried, and if we fail, yet when the Government are asked at the ballot box why they did not grant our petition, they will be unable to say there was no public demand for early closing.