500 ATTEND NO-LICENCE MEETING

Chronicle (Levin), 4 December 1946, Page 6

500 ATTEND NO-LICENCE MEETING

■Press Association

By Telearavh—

MASTERTON, De c. 3. The keen interest which is being takeu in the restoration issue in the Masterton no-licence distriet was clear ly shown tonight when • there was an attendance of about 500 people at a meeting in the 'Masonic Hall called ostensibly by a number of citizens of Masterton but ih fact by members of the Masterton No-Licence League. The Mayor (Mr. W.' Kemp) did not preside because 'he had stated earlier that he regarded the move as premature pending the aunounceinent of the official count, and he wished lirst to eonsult his Council. Similarly the Masterton Chamber Commerce was not oliicially represented. Mr. G. W. Morice, a member of the No-Licence League, presided* and an orderly and oxceedingly well-conducted meeting discussed quite informallv the methods of control of liquor wliich could best suit Masterton. Kev. G. H. Goodmau, presideut of tlie Masterton No-Licence League, ad dressed the meeting on the provisions of the Licensing Commissioii 's recom mendation so far as they concerned restoration in Masterton. Of Ihe 12 citizens who eonvened tlie meeting, the above speakers and Rev. A. L. Sileock were the only ones to address the meeting. Altliough tlie meeting was publicly advertised for the purpose of discussiug tlie restoration issue and for the setting up of a committee the ehainnan refused to aecept resolutions on the ground that it would possibly hiuder the meetiug to be eonvened later bv the Mayor.