MODERATE LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2575, 24 September 1915, Page 6

MODERATE LEAGUE

The annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Moderate League was held Inst evening. . Mr. A. A. S. Me/iteaih presided. Tlio adoption of the annual report (a precis of w!hich has been published) was moved by the chairman. Mr. Menteatb said that the lenguo had found; it impossible to make any progress in constructive reform owing to the exigencies of the time—owing to the war. However, the league had exercised an influence in the last general election, for the position as to No-License was reversed, and the league was opposed to that restriction proposed in the namo of No-License. When the clash of arms has ceased, lie thought the league would take its part in the modelling of social legislation. The leaguo hoped for a moderate course of action oil the liquor question, and was opposed to the NoLicense idea, and he personally hoped that it would never go forth to the world after a general election that Now Zealanders were a people who could not trust themselves with liquor.- ■-

Mr. W. Porry seconded the motion. He said t!hat the< league Had. grown from a small body to a- very large one, "extending throughout New Zealand l . The chairman: Thirty thousand members. - Mr. Perry added tliat tho league had alivays beea favourably received by tho Government, and had done the service of pointing out several things in the liquor traffio which needed remedying. They had pointed' out that existing legislation was sufficient to deal with the tied-house evil andl with the sale of adulterated liquor, and he had no doubt that the Minister of Justioe would see that the existing legislation was given effect to. The leaguo had filled a longfelt want, because bofore it came into existence there,, were only tho two extreme parties." While the league disagreed with the No-License Party cn important grounds, it also desired considerable reforms in the licensing trade. Tho motion to adopt flio report and balance-sheet was carried. The officers were re-electod as follows:—President, Mr. A. A. Stuart Menteath; executive, Messrs. J. F. Atkins, E. B. Bristow, l'\ H. Brodriok, J. B. Harcourt, E. Mace. J. H. Owen, W. E. Pearson, W, Perry, D. F. Skinner j hon. secretary, Sir. W. G. Talbot; juditor, Mr. 0, G. Allan. _ (