THE LIQUOR QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2270, 2 October 1914, Page 6

THE LIQUOR QUESTION

MODERATE LEAGUE'S CAMPAIGN. A meeting for the purpose of forming a branch of tho New Zealaud Moderate League in Wellington North Electorate was held in Turnbull's auction room last evening. Mr. A. do B. Brandon presided over a good attendance of members, among whom were a number of ladies.

The chairman said that ho was glad to preside- at a meeting of the Model'-, ate citizens of Wellington. The organ-' iiation, now in course of formation, was ■ badly needed in the Dominion. He lield th© opinion that the present state of attains so far as the liquor question was concerned was largely! due to the licensing laws which had been' advocated by the Prohibitionists. The sys-. tems of reduction and local option had in their operation tended towards creating monopoly, which was one of the conditions so much decried by the Prohibitionists. Where there was NoLicencq, illicit ,trading,• with all its evils, was very prevalent; where licenses had been. limited the result had not been to the advantage'of the public. Unlimited license might carry equal or greater evils with it, but what should 'be aimed at was the improvement and better control of existing' conditions. (Applause.) In all social problems the remedy lay in example and precept, and not in restrictive legislation. Considerable progress had been made in this direction in recent yfears. If the sentiments expressed in the programme of th.e Moderate League were universally advocated by the leaders of public life, and if intoxication was treated as a matter of bad form it would do much to overcome tlio objections connected with the consumption of alcoholic liquors. (Applause;) It > was .decided - that a Wellington North Branch of the New Zealand Moderate Leaguo 'be formed, and a committeo set up to forward the objects.of the league in that electorate.

The' following gentlemen were elected as .1 committee, with power to add to tlieir number:—Messrs. A. de B. Brandon, W. H. Turnbull, R. Wilson, W. E. Pearson, and J. B. Harcourt. After general discussion regarding tlio activities of the league jji connection with the forthcoming elections, the meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair. .