THE OTHER SIDE
NATIONAL TRADE DEFENCE COUNCIL'S MANIFESTO. At a meeting of the National Council of New Zealand, held in Wellington this morning, the following motions were unanimously adopted :—: — " Since the outbreak of the war all branches of the Trade throughout the Dominion have not only abated their organising operations, but have devoted their moneys to patriotic funds, and in various ways shown that the Trade has placed the Empire's interests before its own; and this council regrets that it is again compelled by the Prohibition agitators to defend its property and interests. While deploring that all its interests, some £15,000,00 to £20.000,000, in industrial concerns, investments, and property, should be subjected to menace and destruction every three years, the Trade ha« to rely upon the fair-minded instincts_ of the electors at such times not to injure or destroy their neighbours' properties by voting for Prohibition. Being patriotic, the Trade considers it would be courting financial disaster throughout the Dominion to invite the electors to vote for Prohibition, as by so doing at least £1,000,000 sterling annually would be lost to the general revenue of the country. This council therefore resolves :—: — l.^That it is pure fiction to allege that the Trade is a fruitful cause of economic waste when it contributes one million sterling to the revenue and employs many thousands of industrious citizens. 2. That, viewing the physique of the troops when leaving for the front, to say the Trade causes "physical inefficiency" among the young manhood of the nation, is a wild fabrication and a gross libel upon young New Zealanders. 3. That this counsil deplores that it should be suggested by Prohibitionists that this country's expenditure upon alcoholic liquors should be treated as economic waste, or affecting the courage, physique, and patriotism of our soldiers, for as a people New Zealanderß consume only one-third of the alcoholic beverages our Allies the Belgians consume, and who will deny they^are a magnificently brave, patriotic ana capable nation? 4. That the physical efficiency of the young peopple of the Dominion is witness to their high moral qualities, and that the worst forms of immorality are not to be found among the normal and moderate users of alcoholic beverages. 5. That prohibition has done nothing to promote temperance habits among the intemperate; and that during the time of ite agitation drunkenness has increased, due, we believe, to the determination of the people not to tolerate coercion in any form from any section of the community. 6. While holding that no majority has any right to decide for a minority in matters of eating or drinking, we desire to commend the action of Parliament in not throwing to the dogs, so to speak, the people's liberties, the country's revenue, and the property and businesses of the trade. A simple majority having nothing to lose has no right to determine such vast interests. 7. We consider that a section of the people should not be encouraged at this puncture of our Empire's existence to jeopardise the interests of aiiy class; nor should prohibitionists be allowed to menace the credit and revenue of the Dominion at a time when these should be soundly maintained. 8. That as the prohibition people are avowedly more concerned for political power than the country's welfare, we appeal to all fair-minded electors, whatever their predilections otherwise may be, not to hand over the keeping of the Dominion's affairs to such an irresponsible party. 9. This council directs attention to the fact that only in two out of twelve " dry" electorates did the no-license vote reach the majority required to carry no-license in 1911; that is to say, that in ten no-license districts the policy of prohibitionists could not have, been carried had the vote been an originating one at the last election, thus showing that after trial of no-license the inclination of the people in no-license districts is to return to licensing. This council, while openly declaring that the trade as a trade has no politics, i& hopeful (hat its friends and supporters will not encourage by their votes the return of candidates, to Parliament who nvb ready to place prohibition first and the industrial, commercial, financial and social inteiests of the Dominion nowhere. And this council is more concerned for the country's than its own interests when it bays that the return of such candidates to Parliament would be a. calamity l'ar-icai'liing, disastrous, and iniquitous (o New Zealand.
The haip that onco thro' Tara's lialte. Tho MiuJ of music shed, Mado mu^ic which H'cimxl sweet enough, To listeners long since dead. But wo iovo gajer lyrics now, Sad strains we cvan'fc endure; Hitch harping cough we slay right off With Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. —Advt. The o.«. Dueheau is udvertiead to make special trips to the troopships to-morrow.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 75, 25 September 1914, Page 8
Word Count
800THE OTHER SIDE Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 75, 25 September 1914, Page 8
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