THE REAL MODERATES.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2709, 2 March 1916, Page 6

THE REAL MODERATES.

' . - , . (To the Editor.) ; Sir, —I have been under a misappre-: ! hcnsion. I thought it -was an under'stood thing that .the 'New Zealand : ■■■ Moderate League came half-way be-', f tween the licensed 1 victuallers and the Prohibition Party, but, in reading the account of their meeting, they seem to .. be all'on the side of liquor.-. One would f; naturally think the early would meet with their approval, as it only curtails three,hours out ! of, sixteen. » 1 , - thought this was the position: . The. Prohibition Party wants the hotels ; closed altogether, the Liquor 1 Party .want thein opened"for sixteen -hours, j ■ and the Moderate League, or middle f: r party, want them open eight hours a i.-.day. . From the account of their meet- > f .' - ing, I am in the wrong. '■ My eyes 'are. !;: opened now, land I think a. great uum- [.;•!' l»r .of other people's also. Wo now K-! : know. w'liere the .Moderate' League belong: ' This. League says: "Thejf 'l)?vo F ; : a duty to-perform to their .large body ; of -members, whose . social habits would 1 bo affected by the proposed change." ; 1 This large body can surely quench I tlieir thirst within tl\e thirteen hours i the: hotels are open. If they were i, really- patriotic, they would be willing . to 'b'e abstainers altogether if it' would L benefit the soldiers that are willing to : sacrifice their-lives if need.be for them: ; No. Mr'.' Editor, a., lot ''of men and i ; women'would' not "give;. one .'glass; ;. nor deny themselves Anything for aiiy- ;. liody's benefit. For goodness ' sake, ' lot's ■ put.- self in the jbackground for : once. Our country is at stake. Our boys are willing to do their share', let's ! help them all we can. The 'citizens t that have got up the early closing peti- » tion form what I'would'-call a Moderate : League.—l am,...ctc,, -.. PERPLEXED.' !. ,- 'March 1. ■ ': ■