THE THIRD PARTY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2215, 30 July 1914, Page 8

THE THIRD PARTY.

IN THE LIQUOR QUESTION. "MODERATES" ORGANISED A TWO-EDGED SWORD.

At'a meeting held in tho Cpncert Chamber of the Town Hall last night' a Moderate League was formed as a third party to the liquor question. Mr. A. A. S. Menteath presided, and there was a good attendance. , Mr. Menteath explained tlio. genesis of the movement. Tho meeting, he said 1 was called to form a true temperance party. Thoso who favoured it were not extremists: they were moderates, i They wero. heartily against excess of every kind. They wore against tho abuse of alcoholic liquors, but they were, also against attempts to coerce. They were entitled to bo called the only true temperance party. (Applause.) . Thero was once before a temperance party which aid great good by methods of'persuasion and reasoning. Unfortunately, that party had ceased to exist, and in its placo was a party of tyranny. (Applause.) Every party had a stimulant which called it into existence, and the ■stimulant which gave rise to this new party was to bo gathered by a consideration of the drastic Licensing Bill which had: recently been introduced in Parliament. At the' time of 1 tlio last general election there were 590,000 electors on tho roll, but only 492,000 polled. Over 97..000 (one-sixth) did not vote. There wero east for- National Prohibition just on 260,000 votes, wfaich <was nearly 56 per cent. If the 55 per cent, proposal which has been defeatedin. the Committee' of the House had been law at the time of 'the last election, National Prohibition would (according to the figurps quoted) have been carried. • •

_ Under the law of National Prohibition, ho said, we would bo permitted to uso wine for sacramental purposes, so that wo couid do in our churches what would make.lis criminals if we did them, and would ; render ourselves liable to a fine of £100 for a first offence, and three months' imprisonment for a second offence. If the founder of the Christian-religion were to do in New Zealand under ■ this Bill what he had done m Galilee, lie; would be hailed before >a'. magistrate, ■ arid fined. £100. . Are• you," 'lie asked,. ''going to allow such a, law to be made in this- cotin-' try. rVoices: . "No."''

• Most Temperate people. . Continuing, Mr,. Mmteath said that the licensing law was a measure which** the mtemperate party had placed on tlie statute book. Jf National Prohibition wore carried, we would, before tho world, take out a prohibition order against ourselves, which would be tantamount to saying that we were incapaulo of otherwise refraining from running to. excess. (Hear,;hear.) According to she, latest .statistics (1913) 7751 people were convicted of -drunkenness m. Now-Zealand in the year, and the population of people over tiyenty years °*j\ a Sp was 622,000.. . New , Zealand was singularly free, from drunkenness, and, in proportion to their numbers the convictions here wero threo times as heavy as against native-bom people. Tho ..ear Book showed by the of the quantities of liquor consumed (per J' o '™) -m various countries that New /calaiic headed the list for temperance. (Applause.) ,It iv,is very instructive that the; people, of."the ;United States, where the Prohibition movement originated, drank twice as .much beer as the peopte or New. Zealand, four times as much .wine,.''and ,22 per cent, more spirits. They know that in tlie United States, ■ ivhero the movement had been started and tried, the. failure of Prohibition, was most accentuated. One of the most valuable of God's gifts for ' cheering the heart .when it' was depressed was alcohol properly usedj hut not abused. No doubt, adder Mr. Menteath, an .-attempt would be made to rovive'the'ss,per. cent, proposal unless the large moderate section threw their weight into . the. matter, and ceased to leave the question to parties, \ which were: intemperate on the ono hand and interested'on . the other. Unlesß the moderates took an active part, arid got ' fie question finally settled, there would always be ; turmoil.- How, often had men well fitted to s.ervo' the community found thoir Parliamentary Candida-, ture defeated because they were on'. oho side or the other on the licensing question? This must end. (Applause. 1 ) A deputation of moderates had waited on the Prime Minister, and made representatives to . him on the 'subject. Iho deputation had been introduced by tlie Hoii. A. L. Herdman. (Applause.) the League would be unable to, wane'" war .without, the sinews of war, but, contributions would be voluntary. Mr. R: A. Armstrong, who was formerly organiser for tlio Employers' Federation, had been engaged as organiser for three months. Mr. Menteath said that : he hoped that there wouid be formed a league which would extend through- • out New Zealand.,, (Applause.)

State or Municipal Control. _ .Mr...W.. perry moved ;tbat a Moderate League should, be: formed, and a committee appointed, with power to do all' things necessary to extend tho movement to other, parts of the Dominion. He said that one of the chief objects of the League was to prevent their liberties from being filched from them. .The growth of the Prohibition Party's strength was alarming,; .and the fact that tho 55 per,cent., proposal had been defeated in the Committee of the.Ho'uso was no reason Why the moderates should not take action. ' Tho Prohibition Party would redouble their efforts: in fact,- they were moving already. The big football, match between the Prohibitionists and the Trade had been going on for years, and the moderate party had filled the role of the ball, whicii was kicked about. The abuse of liquor was due in a groat' measure to lack of proper control. The League would strive to ensure proper control; and thorough inspection of licensed premises ! and of liquor.. The Act now contained provisions in this direction, but thero was no proper administration. The question of tied houses would have tn he better provided against. He suggested'that there .should be commissioners to Advise Licensing Committees as to the suitability of applicants for licenses, and the propriety of the bareains which were being entered into The inspections could be attended to by a special department, under tho supervision of .tho State. If efforts to improve matters failed, the League might urge, upon tho Government tho desirability for considering the question of State, or municipal, control, 'hie 'main object of the League was to obtain fair plAy for the public by resisting National "Prohibition, and advocating extensive reforms in the conduct of licensed houses. But the public must awake from its lethargy and assist. (Applause.) .

"Tluis Far Shalt Tliou Co." The resolution was.seconded by Mr D. F. Skinner, who said that the Prohibition Party had never told anyone how the revenue was to be made ii» if liquor were totally banned. Then there would be the effect 011 industry and employment; Tliero were 31,000 ncres under barley every year, and the wages paid from this cultivating amounted t'o over £200,000. Respecting the\hop industry, the year's wages in the Motuclta district alone totalled about £11,000. - The effect of National Prohibition would bo very detrimental -to the tourist traffic. People would not

be keen to' come to. a country where the customary social comforts wore denied. Luggage, and effects would lie subject to inspection, and anyone found to have brought a nip of whisky would be liable to severe penalty. The League required to he strong' enough to go to tha Prohibition Party and. say: "You have gone far enough," and to tell'the Trade: "We want some improvement." (Applause.)

The motion was carried unanimously, amidst applause. ' Tlio provisional committeo was elected to be the committee of the League, .and with power to add to its number. Mr. A. A. S. Menteath was elected president. The committee will the rules of the body.

Telegrams from several centres in tlio Dominion were read wishing the League success, and otherwise expressing sympathy with the movement. A collection taken in the hall realised £39 16s. 6d., and there were, in addition, guarantees of financial support. About three hundred people, signed membership cards.