N.Z. ALLIANCE POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1925, Page 20

N.Z. ALLIANCE POLICY

'AND THE EEFORM ASSOOIA-: ... . „..-. ,-TION. -- -v .

The Standing Committee of the New Zealand Alliance at a meeting held last nigHt" adopted' the following resolution in reference to that,adopted by the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association, and to the remarks <>f'Mr. D. M. Findlay, chairman of the association:— "That Mr. D. *M." Fiiidlay, chairman of the New Zealand-Licensing Reform Association, having seen fit to misrepresent the policy of the New "Zealand Alliance by stating that the Prohibitionists are seeking to"- 'force 'Prohibition upon the Dominion by direct action of the Legislature without reference to the people at all,' the Standing Committee of the alliance calls attention to the principles of p^Jitical action emboiliad in its constitution,- which are (a) ,the abolition and Prohibition of the liquor . traffic by direct"vote'of the people; (lh , to obtain from Parliament such legislation as will give the people absolute 'power over the liquor ('traffic; (c) to' sc--1 cure the return to' Parliament of candidates, irrespective of party, as -will support these objects. '. . • • ; "The_ alliance has never taken any action inconsistent' with' this democratic policy, and challenges Mr.' tfindl.iy to produce a single tittle of evidence "that it has. On the other hand, the legislative proposals that Mr. Findlay's socalled Licensing Reform Association is asking M.P.'s (by circular letter) to support, include the following :—(1) TalJlng away the people's right to vote every three years on the liquor question; (2) taking away the people's right to have their xvill made effective six months after the poll; (3) taking away the people's right to elect-, the licensing authority ; and (4) the maintenance of ■ tic principle of the present undemocratic ballot paper whereby six per ieiit. of voters prevent the remainder fiom coming to a-decisive decision. .', "Whether it is really democracy or the liquor traffic that this combination of liquor interests called the- Licensing Reform Association is out to champion is made manifestly clear from the nature of their proposals, .and from'thc gross misrepresentation of the, policy which seeks to destroy the traffic by the direct vote of the people."