THE LIQUOR QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 22, 25 January 1919, Page 9

THE LIQUOR QUESTION

TO-MORROW NIGHT'S MEETING.

It is officially explained that the Moderate League, under the auspices of which a public meeting is to be held to-morrow night in His Majesty's Theatre, Gourtenay-place, was originally formed to protect the interests of the moderate public as between the two extremes, Prohibitionists and the Trade. The executive states that the league's committees throughout the Dominion are formed of prominent citizens who have felt it their duty to endeavour to preserve the balance of reason on licensing matters while at the same time moving' for far-reaching reforms. In 1915 the league approached the Government with a complete programme of licensing reform, but was requested by the Prime Minister, Mr. Massey, not to press the matter until the abnormal conditions of wartime were passed. The league is very strong in its disapproval of the subsequentaction of the Government in yielding to agitation and plunging the country into the turmoil of a special referendum when internal unity is most needed in the Dominion, and those who attend tha meeting on Sunday night are promised some straight talk from the speakers on recent happenings and their bearing on the general political affairs of the country. The league also points out that the Act providing for the special referendum in April has completely altered the licensing law and the effect of,the peoples votes, and urges citizens to get a thorough grasp of the alterations made. Mr. D. M. Findlay, president of the league, will be the principal speaker, and will be followed T>y Mr. R. A. Armstrong. The meeting will be presided over by Mr. A. Gray, K.C. The door» will be open at 7.30 p.m.