WAR AND DRINK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3087, 18 May 1917, Page 8

WAR AND DRINK

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY BOARD'S ENQUIRY MODERATE LEAGUE'S POSITION. The New Zealand Moderate League, iu response to an advertisijiuent which has recently appeared in tho Press asking for notification from those wishing to give evidence before the National Efficiency Board on tho question of restriction, abolition, or continuance, duriug war conditions, of the vending of wine, beer, .and spirits, communicated to tho board its desire to bo represented, and made certain inquiries' regarding tho method of procedure to bo adopted. Tho executive of the league subsequently met to consider tho board's reply, and as a result determined thai, in view of tho unsatisfactory and inefficacious nature of the projiosed proceedings the league would not bo represented before tho board. Tho following are the letters received from file board, outlining tho method to be adopted, and tho league's views thoreon, which were forwarded to tho board yesterday . National Efficiency' Board, Wellington, Afay 11, 1!)17. Secretary, NModerate League, Wellington. Dear Sir, 1. am duly in rcceipt of your lotter of yesterday's ,dato, intimating that your league desires to submit evidenco to tho board at the liquor'inquiry to be held on May 23 and following days. In reply to your question's,'T have to advise that the board proposes at this inquiry to follow its usual practice—i.e., counsol will not bo admitted, the inquiry will be held in private, no rights will bo- granted for the taking of notes, or of the publishing of the evidonce, nor will any geaeral intimation be given to any witnesses to tho ,nature of the evidence tendered by previous. witnesses. As to limiting the number of witnesses, this point is practically covered by tho concluding paragraph of my advertisement; which states that "it is desired, m order to expedite matters, that witnesses should appear as far as. possible ma . representative capacity." Unless thore. is somo. good reason, my board would bo glad if the representations on bejialf of each interest were placed before tho board by as fen* witnesses as , possible.' 1 ' I Will you kindly let mo know as early as possible the names of your league's witnesses and tho approximate length of time which each witness is likely to occupy in making his statement, bo that arrangements may bo made to obviate undue delay both to tho board and to the witnesses in attendance. -In the meantime your application has been placed on the list, and you will be duly advued as to "when the board will receiv© your representative or representatives — iour faithfully, ■ (Signed) J. T. WATKIN'S, Secretary. THE LEAGUE'S REPLY. After considering this lettor at a special meeting, the executive of thei Modcrate League instructed tho secretary to reply as follows:— > u Yo i Ur 6t , ter of. May 11, replying to the leagues queries re conduct and procedure of tho forthcoming liquor inquiry, was placed before my executive yesterday, and I was instructed to convey to . you their disappointment at the very severe limitations that ere to bo imposed on those desirous of assisting the board to arrive at a sound conclusion on this subject. Under the circuwstances my executive have decided not to take any part in the proceedings, on the iouowing' grounds:— 1. That the league approached Government two years ago, and asked that a Itoyal Commission should bo set up to inquire fully into the whole of the liquor question.^

2. I hat the question of abolition, or continuance of tho sale of liquor is so involved, that to secure its thorough investigation the board or commission dealing therewith should be specially appointed for that purpose; its personnel should bo absolutely impartial, and not •committed in any; iray, and it should devote its whole.time to such, investigation.

3. That without impugning. Jhe general competency of the National Efficiency Board, it is plainly evident that the multitudinous other duties of members will not permit them to give the necessary time and attention to the many aspects of this yery important question. <!-. That the liquor question cannot be placed in the same category as other subjects which come before the board, "because: (a) It is subject to a popular vote /°/\ ie , each general election; (b) it has been a serious political issue at elections for many years past; (c; it is surrounded with strong prejudices; ,(d) it has a literature of its own which has mainly originated from bias, on either 6ide. In view of this, my executive holds that every facility should be given to all parties to hear the statements made on either side, so that rebutting evidence may bo brought, if necessary, and the board placed in the position of estimating at their proper value statements which \must otherwise be taken as ex parte only. My executive also holds that the proceedings and recommendations of a commission affecting a question having sucli popular aspects would be moro likely to carry with them the confidence and support of the people as a whole if made fully public and not held in camera as contemplated.

Jly executive therefore sincerely regrets that -under the circumstances the league cannot take part in the proceedings, and I am instructed to ask you to record the league's formal protest against the inefficacy of the nature of the proposed inquiry and the restrictions" of procedure imposed, which must inevitably prevent that thorough disclosure of. all matters and 'aspects of the question upon alone a sound conclusion can be based.

In conclusion I am directed to point out that tho loague, since its inception, has given close and thorough study to tho liquor question, and has placed before the Government definite proposals for tho bringing about of (ompetsnt licensing reform. The league differentiates between tho terms "restriction" and

"reform," and is of tho opinion that the local conditions affecting the particular question of early closing of licensed premises hare not changed sinco this aspect of tho matter was before I'arliaraent last session.