A NEW FACTOR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 154, 5 August 1914, Page 10

A NEW FACTOR.

THE LIQUOR QUESTION. Mr R. A. Armstrong, Dominion Secretary and Organiser of the receutlyformed N.Z. Moderate League, gave a SUN representative some interesting particulars regarding the movement. The formation meeting was held last Wednesday evening iu Wellington, and already the membership is over a thousand, including prominent business men. medicos, members of the clergy, and many ladies. One remarkable feature of the meeting was that the large attendance comprised almost as many ladies as gentlemen. "I think," said Mr Armstrong, "that this explodes the popular fallacy that it ia the women's vote that makes for prohibition."' In view of the fact that the war has diverted public attention from the ordinary affairs of this country, the progress made was more than satisfactory, and augured well for the future of the league. When the Dominion was properly covered it was proposed to bring forward definite proposals for the amendment of legislation from the point of view of the public who legitimately use alcoholic beverages and the other conveniences provided by what is popularly known as the "Trade." If measures for the reform of the present system of private ownership pifove abortive, then the league will endeavour to get the Government to consider, either the establishment of liquor trusts with limitation of profit, or the systems of A municipal or State control. Those actively moving in the league were determined to prevent, if possible, the imposition of national prohibition upon the Dominion, as they held it to be abso-j lutely fallacious and unworkable, and not iu any sense a remedy for the abuse I of alcohol. ' ! Mr Armstrong proceeded south this j morning to interview a number of prominent citizens in southern centres who have written to the Wellington com-1 mittee offering their assistance in local districts.