NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 291, 28 August 1918, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE

AND-THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC,

At a meeting of tho New Zealand Alliance held on Monday evoning the following resolutions were adopted:— "That tho executive of the New Zealand Alliance regrets that the desiro of the National Council of the liquor trade for a 'fair, just, and reasonable solution' of tho liquor problem should bavo been so imperfectly embodied m its resolution on the subject.' It.welcomes the conversion of the Trade to the democratic principle of a bare majority, but marvels at the simphoity with which the Trade takes :t for granted that any democracy could be foolish enough to consent to the submission to tho electors of a triple issue which, by concentrating the votes of the Trade in favour of one issuo, and driving thoso of its opponents between the other two, would enable tho Trade to carry Continuance, although twothirds of the total votes might bo cast against it. Tho Alliance Executive is uot surprised that tho Trade, realising its inevitable destruction by the next popular vote, should prefer to be bought out in advance as a going concern ; but respectfully suggests that before it asks tho people to considc-r the question of Stato control seriously, it should get the . National Efficiency Board, or some other independent, disinterested, and competent body or citizens to make a recommendation to that effect." "That we reaffirm our domand made in April last when tho petition campaign was decided upon, that when tho licensing voto ia taken at the end of this year full provision shall bo made for all soldiers, whether in caiua or overseas to rccordi their voto. "That wo warn all persons who arc desirous of securing a vote this year on the National Efficiency Board posal for the prohibition of tho liquor traffic that a counter-petition is being circulated by the Trade for the purpose of safeguarding its interests by confusing tho issues, and that great care should bo taken that the Alliance petition for a poll, and this petition only, should bo signed by all who bfelieve in national efficiency."