THE THIN END OF THE WEDGE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2935, 22 November 1916, Page 8

THE THIN END OF THE WEDGE

STATE CONTROL OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC DISCUSSED BY MODERATE LEAGUE The annual meeting of ihe New Zealand Moderate League was held yester'day. Mr. D. M. Findlay presided. In moving the adoption of the annual report (already published) the chairman made reference to some of,<jtho chief matters of interest to the league. All would, he said, congratulate the league on attaining another year of its life. In these times tbe interest of tho league had to bo watched,, but there were other interests which took precedence. These paramount objects were of course being worked for by the league. One of the things the league had advocated was the inspection of liquor. There were adequate provisions on the Statute Book for dealing with inferior liquor. Ho read a letter (dated Sentember 2) in which the Hon. A. L. Herdman, replying to a communication from the league's secretarv, said that as regarded the inspection of liquor samples had recentlv'been taken in hotels throughout the Wellington district, and the result of '•t*ip analyses was being awaited. There had been some prosecutions and convictions since then, and the league could take the facts as a good augurv. A commission to advise on these matters was a thing that should be again tinted on the powers that be. It was now more ifnnOrtant than in the'pnst that we should make good preparation for the future. The English experiments in State control should ho carefully watched. There there was. a Board of Control which regulated the sale of liquor and could acquire holdings which carried hotel licenses or bottle licenses.- Hie faking over of what was known as the Glasgow area had almost reached completion. There had_ been several instances of the board taking over liftuor rights, and that could be regarded as the thin end of the wedge. He mentioned these things as examples of State control, which ought to bo watched, it was a. matter for • serious consideration by the league whether there should not be another issue on New Zealand's voting papers. At Homo, ho continued "off sales" (for consumption out of the hotel) had been stopped an hour or so before the closing of the hotels, unci that had been an advantage, and it was suggested that it might be tried hero. The president concluded bv saving tlisttho ispcretarv, a- very energetic and efficient officer, should he congratulated on the annual roporti Mr. A. de B. Brandon seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. 'He said the Moderates were in the hannv position of being able to steer a middle course between the ProhiKitionist'amlthe drunkard. Legislators should recognise the (difference between regulation and restraint. He looked nn the anti-shouting legislation as regulation. On. the subject of wet canteens for the eanros, he considered that light beer would 'be harmless, .satisfying, and much better than unboiled, water. However, some people made the grave mistake of classing all beer as "beer," and all wine as wine, failing to consider the difference between claret and well fortified "port," or the difference between trong.beer and light beer. He was a- believer in the good to be done bv a good public opinion. An ancient philosopher had said it was unwise to have too many laws; that onlv taught the people to he cunning and dishonest. He did not believe in ton many laws: that worked out. like the serpent in the Garden, of Eden—it temoted the people to break the law. The ! reDort was adopted. The officers were Te-f>locted, as follows:—President, -Mr. D. M. Finlnv; executive, Messrs. J. F. Atkins. E. B. Bristow. F. H. Brodrick. X B. Hnreourt, E. Ma«'e, J. H. Owen, W. E. Pearson, W. Perrv D. F. Skinner: hon. secretary, Mr. W. G. Talbot, WM-' lington; auditor, Mr. C. G;.. .Allan ; Dominion s°cr°tarv, Mr. R. ,A. Armstrong. Wellington.

On the motion.of Messrs. J. F. Atkins, seconded by Mr. J. B. Harconrt. it wps resolved: "That-this-meeting of the New Zealand ' Moderate League would again •urce upon the Government the desirability of setting up a responsible impartial Board of Inouiry to examine the liquor question .'from time to time with a'view fo recommending: comnetent licensinrr legislation for consideration after the war."