"PUT GINGER INTO IT."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1077, 16 March 1911, Page 6

"PUT GINGER INTO IT."

THE NATIONAL LEAGUE, ADVOCATES OF MODERATION; The first general meeting of" the Nalional Leagno was held last evening in Messrs. Turnbull's building, Panama Street. .• .. Mr. H. P. Rawson occupied the- chair, and about fifty people were present, including one or two ladies. In an official circular it is stated "a number of persons Who are interested in the rational nud healthy, gnmes, recreations and amusements of the people, and who hold modenito views as to legislation restricting tho reasonable, freedom of action of the community have founded an organisation known as the 'National League,' to express the opinions of moderate men and women, to oppose intemperate, oppressive, and extreme legislation inimical to the wholesome freedom of action of a self-reliant community, to repressnt the views and opinions of athletic and similar organisations, and to creato a sound and rational opinion upon all matters affecting the recreations, amusements, and social, and commercial intertests of the.community." The league was in the latter part of last year. More Vigour Wanted. Tn a few introductory remarks, the Chairman said the intention wtis to infuse more vigour into the league and get properly to work. Referring to past history, lie recalled the excesses of the time of the Commonwealth on the one hand, and of the Restoration on the other. In Now Zealand at the present time we were becoming more and more tied up by legislation, and it was difficult to foretell what the next step was going to be. It was time a halt was called. Soon' it would bo too late. Our liberty would be gone; and when it was. gone there would bo difficulty, in regaining it. A powerful league would enable the views >f moderate people to be known and felt. When any extreme legislation was being proposed they . could step in, and say "'stondy." After all, the moderates were •j-cn.Hr the majority in the community, -jnd were.they to be treated as a minority?.; ■..';'.

"Illegal to Eat Plum-pudding." Mr. F. E. Hatfield applauded the last speaker's remarks regarding the pinpricks and irritating restrictions of legislation. If the policy were pursued of treating the individual as a hot-house plant the- result . would-: be men who .would dn no wrong, and no good. Eeal and true men were not to be made in that way. Great men did not grow up under those conditions. (Hear, hear.) lien might go down under temptation, but they Ccime'up again, and those who won through were - men of characterstrong and well-developed. Another de-sire-of the. league was to'give expression to- the voice of the people of moderate views. The extremists of both sides occupied too prominent a place in the community, arid the reason was that they made their voices heard the most. It was this that impressed the, legislators. Last year, for instance, there were some of the provisions of the Gaining Act for Which certain members voted, but for .w : hich privately they were out of sympathy. Nothing should be prohibited unless wrong per so. At one. time fin English history it had been.illegal to pat plum-piukiiug. .(Laughter.) Every day, in every town in the Dominion, the law was being.systematically broken and ivith a light heart; and the reason was that the . people believed much of. tho legisla-~ tion was "rot." and not proper' legislation.. It. was necessary that, the' ' law should have the respect' of the grenit• majority, and this was not tfce case when it was enacted for , the extremists. Juries, also, would not convict, when they thought legislation was not proper legislation. The effect of all this was to lower the. general moral tone. Speaking of the league itself • Mr.- Hatfield urged that it be. kept nonparty, 'though in a general way political. They must bo careful of any attempt to bo "used" by individuals or parties. Mr. J. G. Dalrymple advocated an, aggressive policy, Only in this 'way could they prove effective. To take up. a defensive attitude always was weakness. Thpj- should put up a strong ' barrier against fanaticism, and at the same time' makb sorties into the enemy's country. (Hear, hear.) Speak Up. For Moderation, Mr. D.'M. Liickie said that no community could bo benefited by setting up. legislative barriers _ against temptations. ■If, all' temptation were removed men would lose character, force, vigour, and power. (Applause.) It seemed that a trend was taking place in that direction .at present. Therefore in a country where prohibitive legislation was being , carried to its farthest extent they should speakup for moderation. Their vote proportion, if they u;ere vigorous and active,' should be 10 to 8. ■ Effort to Rouse the People. Mr. E. J. Fitzgerald urged the league to arouse the people of. Wellington out of their wonted lethargy. _ Mr. H. W. Bridge moved that the meeting adjourn with a view to holding a public-meeting and that in 'the ln - e ;L i ll 6 ""*.'executive communicate with the various unions (including the labour unions), no pointed out that th« attendance was about 50 out of a total membership of 500. . ■ . ■ _ Mr. J. Fuller, junr., thought the meeting strongly representative." He did not want to see the gathering" lapse. Hβ rnoved as aiv amendment that an executive, be appointed with power to add to. Bridges motion... He said he understood the labour unions, were not represented here that evemng because they had beiieved the leaguo stood for the defence of capital. It should be made qui o clear thSi&cr 10,,6 ™ 1,,0 ' ,,^"10 "^! ■ Ho >'- <)f Fitzgerald Mr. A large meeting will'be held, probably next week, possibly i n the Town Half.