NATIONAL OWNERSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1918, Page 7

NATIONAL OWNERSHIP.

MODERATE .LEAGUE ENDORSES PETITION. Wellington, August 29. At a meeting of the Central Executive of the New Zealand Moderate League held tins morning, Mr D. M. Rndlay presiding, consideration was given to a. letter from the National Council of the Licensed Trade asking f or the support of the League to the 1 Petition now bein" circulated praying that the additional issue of "National Ownership" Should be placed before the electors at the" next poll. In the course of the letter, the National Council stated that the determination to promote the petition had been partacularly influenced by the stand taken by the Moderate League to the •effect that the moderate public should .have the right to vote on the question ot "National Ownership," and also that the inconsistent "Local-Option" issue should be done away with. The petition was carefully examined by the League exceutive. The members expressed their opinion that the "Trades" attitude had now brought "National Ownership" forward as a realitv possible of achievement in the near* future, whereas had organised opposition been shown by the "Trade" together with the Prohibition Party's active opposition to State Ownership, it would have made it very difficult to bring the proposal into the realm of practical politics. In;view of this it was decided to support the "National Ownership" petition and the following resolution was carried:— "That the New Zealand Moderate ieague, having from its inception in 191.4 consistently urged upon Government the'necessity of amending) the method by which the opinion of the people on the licensing Question is secured, making tho issue entirely a National one, and embracing the question of "National Ownership," endorses the principle embodied in the petition now being promoted by the National Council and, while reserving the right of free criticism of all machinery proposals for achieving the object in view, expresses its gratification that the Licensed Trade of New Zealand is prepared to endeavor to secure and to accept the decision of the people on the question of "National Ownership," and strongly urges the moderate citizens of the Dominion to avail themselves of the opportunity now offering by supporting the "National Ownership" Petition- a a a demonstration to Government of the growing sentiment in favor of tho State taking over the complete management and Control of the sale of alcoholic liquors."*