MODERATE LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 248, 19 October 1922, Page 7

MODERATE LEAGUE.

CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. tßy Telegraph.—Press Assoclatloa.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday. A conference of delegates from the provincial branches of the New Zealand Moderate League was held to-day. Mr. \V". Perry, deputy president of the central executive, presided. The chairman welcomed the delegates. He briefly recounted the history of the league from its foundation in 1014. The organisation had worked quietly, but effectively, in the interests of the moderate public. They had been faced with al.normal conditions created by the war. and when they approached t'.ip Government in 101.) with a request for a complete overhaul of the liquor laws the Prime Minister had replied lliat the time \va- inopportune for dealing effectively with the matter. As reasonable citizen* they had to agree with this. Unlike their opponents, the prohibitionists, who had declared the prohibition movement was of more importance than the

war, the Moderate. League had recognised the relative position of the liquor question. The position now was, however, that with the country returned to normal the campaign could with deeenev be resumed. The Prime Minister had rece-ntlv stated in Parliament that if prohibition were not carried at the approaching poll the Government would bring doivn a comprehensive measure of licensing reform. This was the leogiiv's opportunity to press for an entirely new liiiuor law. The conference would be asked to deal with proposals for the amendment of ihe law" governing the third issue of State control, so that it would be made a living issue at future polls.