THE LICENSING QUESTION

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 30 October 1914, Page 4

THE LICENSING QUESTION

"MODERATES" WAKING-UP

NEW PARTY FORMING

Year after year the Prohibitionists are to the fore seeking to totally debar one and all from indulging in any liquor whatever other than tea, waters (of any description), painkiller, etc. No doubt their intentions are well meaning, but they are, nevertheless, not in accordance with freedom and the . rights of a Britisher.

Put down intoxicants where abused by all means; but don't debar^a man fro m using his over-coat on a fine summer's day—he may be having a severe cold underneath, when nauceous drugs may well be given place to' by "something hot." What the Total Prohibitionists want to do is, to educate the rising generation to sobriety, and they do, so far as they think, and have been doing so for half a century or more, and have done much good to the cause of Temperance thereby. But years ago ? in the good old days when the Teetotallers used to organise their Suuday and day school picnics, with Brass Instruments and Drum and Fife Bands, and inspired life into the youth and beauty, who carried banners and rosettes of ribbons and flowers of every hue, there was no thought of "Total Prohibition for the Nation," but simply Total Abstinence for those, who joined the many societies, while the parents, young and old joined in the picnic, and with pride patted the youngsters on the back. But things have changed now, and nothing but TOTAL Prohibition will suffice those who think they are advancing the cause of Temperance by dictating a principle entirely in opposition to freedom. Yes, let us go further and say—because many of them dare not look upon the wine themseves, they would deny their fellowman to look, medicinally, casually or fraternally.

Under the circumstances, the ECHO is pleased to note that Auckland is to the fore in promoting a " Moderate League " or Middle Party, as between the Prohibitionists and the Brewers, and a la rge meeting of sympathisers was held in the Auckland Town Hall the other c vening to test the cause.

" We are not backing the brewers," emphatically, declared Mr Thorne, the chairman. "The brewers have not taken the care and pains that they should have shown in the conduct of houses under their control. There are very few houses in Auckland at which you can get pure stuff."

The objects of the League were explained by the Dominion Secretary (Mr R. A. Armstrong), jwho drew a fanciful picture of "what might be expected to happen if the proposals of the Prohibition party were carried into effect. It would bring about a disorganisatian of the finances of the Dominion, and he contended that no section of the community had the right to destroy the meams of livelihood of another without bringing forward definite proposals in the first place for the replacement of their livelihood, and, secondly, for substitute

sources of revenue.

" The facilities for obtaining liquor are m any and varied," continued this speaker " and prohibition leads to all sorts of soul-destroying craft. It means perjury and false witness, the sneaking round back wa\s and dark corners, and ail sorts of subterfuges. What was to stop ,a lugger dropping into one of the many bays of the New Zealand coast and reaping a rich harvest for the risk ?"

At the conclusion hundreds joined the new League.