N.Z. MODERATE LEAGUE MANIFESTO

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1919, Page 8

N.Z. MODERATE LEAGUE MANIFESTO

To the Electors of New Zealand. The Moderate League stands for the sane and scientific reform of the Liquor Traffic as opposed to a wild plunge into the extreme and untried measure of absolute Prohibition. The League believes that the gravest danger threatened by the forthcoming referendum is the interference, by an extreme and reckless minority vote, with the personal liberties of the majority of the people. If carried thus Prohibition cannot fail to arouse bitterness and discontent, defiance of the law, and revolt, and bring in its train evils far worse than any it seeks to remove. The rich will hoard their supplies of liquor; the poor alone are to be prohibited. This will foster class hatred and the spirit of revolt, . The carrying of Prohibition, avowedly to protect the soldiers and before their return, will cast an undeserved slur upon the men whose nobility of conduct and character has been the admiration of the civilised world. Hasty legislation has. moreover, disfranchised many of the soldiers, who will resent this double unfairness. In view of the new outbreak and very probable recurrence of Epidemic Influenza it is nothing short of madness to plunge into Prohibition without adequate safeguards for ample and readily accessible supplies of alcoholic beverages. No protective regulations have yetbeen framed, and it will be absolutely impossible for a handful of Health Officers to deal with the demand for certificates, while over-burdened with other I duties during epidemic conditions. The Moderate League believes that the payment of the huge sum of £4,500,000 for compensation to the trade, and „the loss of £1,500,000 per annum entailed by Prohibition with compensation, will cripple the finances of | New Zealand and retard necessary public | works and reforms for a generation. A majority of the people favor State Ownership and are disfranchised under the present vote. The League assures the people that at the General Election Referendum, which must take place within eight months, it will use its utmost efforts to bring about State Ownership of the traffic. But this can be brought into effect only upon the I carrying of continuance now. The present campaign in the League's estimation is being forced by political opportunists and profiteers for their own ends, and that reasonable Prohibitionists will wait, for the general election vote on Prohibition without compensation, which will only defer Prohibition till July 1, 1920. THEREFORE, If you value Democracy, Personal Sound Public Finance," and Fair Treatment to our Soldiers, you will VOTE FOR MODERATION AND LIBERTY ' The New Zealand Moderate League • D. M. FINDLAY, • ° ' President. R. A. ARMSTRONG, Dominion Secretary. (Published by arrangement).