NATIONAL LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1083, 23 March 1911, Page 6

NATIONAL LEAGUE.

MODERATE THINKERS COMBINE. AGAINST "FANATICAL LEGISLATION." x I'OR FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND ACTION. The formation of a combination of the moderate-thinking members- of the community who are opposed to the irrational views of those who desire to impose unreasonable restrictions on the people is the platform of the National League and about 300 members rallied in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall Ja'st evening in response to tho call of tho league. Tile chair-was occupied by Mr. H. Rawson who explained that the meeting was tho outcomo of several small meetings of a committeo which had taken tho matter in hand. The object was to put a stop to the fanatical legislation which had been the order of tho day for somo timo past. (Applause.) He and the league were qnito aware that opponents would say that they belonged to tile Opposition, Labour, Liquor, or some other of the many 'parties which existed in New Zealand, but he wished it to be clearly understood that they belonged to none of these parties. The league believed in "live and let live." The moderate section of the Dominion had, he contended, been far too long asleep, and unless .they awakened they would soon cease to have freedom of thought and action and many, of the liberties enjoyed at present would probably be lost for ever. (Applause.) They hoped that the outcome of the meeting would be the formation of a powerful league—one so powerful that it would be able to go to the Government and ask it to halt before passing any more fanatical legislation. it was proposed to form a committee of thirty members to be selected by supporters of the movement, of which number seven would bo elected as a working committee to make preliminary arrangements and bring their proposals before a general meeting. No action would be taken until the whole of the members had been called together arid had approved the course proposed. Nominations, from any member of the committee would bo received up till noon on Saturday. One thing essential was that all members nominated should be enthusiasts. They must have live members, otherwise they could do no good. (Loud applause.)

Against Unreasonable Restrictions. Mr. Iladfiekl then moved: "That the object of the league be to form a combination of all nioder-ate-thinking members of the community who arc opposed to the irrational views of those who desire to impose unreasonable restrictions on the people of the community." He said 110 hoped that the league would become a force strong enough to prevent the moderate section being dictated to by the extreme, dogmatic, but noisy section of the community. Tho league would be a non-party organisation, but it would liavo to make its influence felt in Parliament to combat tho little sections which got close to tho Ministerial ear, and made themselves felt. People must have been absolutely astonished at the complete alterations which had taken place in certain Bills within a day or two, simply because of the action of these small sections. It was this kind of thing, together with the restrictions, which somo extremists proposed in regard to such things as smoking and Sunday observance, whieli made the league a necessity. When persons could propose such things, surely they might be presumed to have takeii leave of common sense altogether. (Applause.) Inquisitorial Laws. If these extreme inquisitorial laws were to be enforced they would surely be disregarded. At the most they would be met by evasion and subterfuge, and would lower the. moral tone of the community. Legislation should lie framed to 'meet the average adult population of the country. Tho fact that there are lunatics 111 tho community would be no excuse for putting tho , whole population in straight-jackets, although it was a reason for having asylums. (Applause.) What was wanted was a slate of active men who would build up a rational manhood. If this dogmatic asceticism were allowed to got hold of the helm of State the position would be fraught with disaster. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, .who seconded tho motion, said the rational people wcro not combined, but tho time had arrived when they should do so in their own interests. (Applause.) If this wero done tho League would have dono something to justify its existence.

The " Right Thief," Mr. W. H. 1). Bell said it was against the "right thief" that the League was formed. What lie termed- the "right thief" some people chose to call " tho wowser." He proceeded to comment on a letter which had appeared in The Dominion that morning signed "Prohibition." The writer said the Leaguo was being formed by . the Liquor party to demolish tho prohibitionists. Ho had been a member of the executive since the movement was first mooted, and he could say that no such proposition had ever been suggested at any meeting. The League was not formed to help the Liquor trade or for the purpose of demolishing prohibition. It was formed solely for the demolition of tho "right thief!" They would fight the erring prohibitionist just as they would fight the erring brewer, ill'. Bell also remarked that tho League mould fight as strongly against capital ruling the community as it would fight against Labour ruling the community. The League was a defensive alliance against the extravagant proposals of tho extremists, and its motto could well be ".Dont tread on the tail of my coat." Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon pointed out that the trend ot the legislation of late years showed that the liberties of tho people had been curtailed by a small section of the community, and the moderate people had been overlooked. The moderate section had not until now had a mouthpiece to voice their sentiments. Tho Leaguo would enablo this to be done, and would assure of the moderate view being put. forward in future legislation.

No Party and No Religion,

Mr. S. Moran referred to tho non-party nature of the league, which was organised to resist incursions on the liberties of rational-minded people by extremists. Ho proceeded to point to tho different political leanings of a number of the men who wore associated in this movement. The combination of the extremists had to be met by a combination of non-extremists. The league must bo non-party and a- nonreligious party. The chairman then put the motion, which was carried with only four dissentients.

Mr. C. W. Tanner urged that a platform should bo put forward. He proposed that tho committpe should bring forward a platform at the earliest possible moment, stating exactly what it was intended to do. Another speaker objected to the leaguo not having any definite object, and asked a definition of the word "moderate." Ho thought the meeting should, havo been given an opportunity to discuss the motion. New Zealand or Heaven? Mr. J. Fuller, jmi., gave it as his opinion that a fair definition of tho word "moderate" was the natural instinct of the ordinary right thinker. Mr. Fuller proceeded to comment on tho tendency towards restrictive legislation- in New Zealand. He pictured New Zealand as being encompassed by a barb wire fence, which would neither let people out nor in. This fence in time would assume tho aspect of a halo, and then, added Jlr. Fuller, amidst laughter, before wc knew where we were New Zealand would go up and substitute heaven. (Laughter.) "If tho wowseristic spirit was allowed fo go on, ho thanked heaven that ho would 1)0 in the other place. (Loud laughter.) The chairman, replying to a question, said that members wero asked to elect 30 men to carry out their views. That committee would give tho policy, but nothing binding would be dono until a general meeting was called. Mr. Martin I.uckie remarked that tho league to be a success must extend throughout the Dominion. This league was proposed as one branch of a movement which would be established in the centres and country towns of New Zealand,

Mr. Major said it made his blood boil to think of tho way "Wellington had been nm by a, section of tho community. A noisy minority completely dwarfed (lie moderato mindod in the city. The time had come when the people should combine and pnt_u stop to this sort of thing. -Mr. \\. E. Pearson said the moderate people allowed tho other people to wipe their tcet on them. The tendency at present was that .of whining children, fawning on tho Government, and the country would go to the dogs if they did not fight this spirit. Tho meeting concluded after a brief reply by tho chairman. A further meeting will be held 011 Monday next.