R.S.A. CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 250, 21 October 1919, Page 7

R.S.A. CONFERENCE.

LIQUOR IN CLUBS. THE "CLOSURE" ADOPTEDT""" MOTION THROWN OUT. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association resumed to-day. It was decided to ask Parliament to recpjve a deputation from the Conference to-morrow. A committee was appointed to inquire into the conditions governing i.he administration of headquarters and to investigate relations between the executive committee and the office staff. Mr. .1. Petherick (Christchurch) moved "That this Conference requests Parliament to grant the R.S.A. clubs charters to enable them to sell alcoholic beverages." TTe said it was the soldiers who prevented New Zealand from becoming a prohibition country and urged that charters would keep the clubs together. Mr. V. Totter (Auckland) seconded tho motion pro forma, but objected to the li'iuor issue being brought into the R.S.A. Mr. X. Thing (Kawakawa) said, as n prohibitionist, lie would move that the motion be now put. This was seconded by Mr. R. B. Bell (Wairon). Mr. l'etlieriek said it was a little gag on the part, of the opposition to prevent the question being properly discussed and fairly put. He added that OS per cent of soldiers voted in favour of license. A delegate interjected: "Not in favour of liquor in soldiers' clubs.' , Mr. IVthericU continued, saying tho chartered soldiers' clubs would lie better able to govern the sup.ply of liquor to members than under the present system, with men drinking in hotels. The closure was carried. Mr. Petherick's motion was then put and decisively rejected by rti) to 2.