IS THE ALLIANCE INCONSISTENT ?

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 150, 29 June 1925, Page 5

IS THE ALLIANCE INCONSISTENT ?

KEPLY TO LICENSING EEFOEM ■.;■;■■ ASSOCIATION,. " „..'■ TO THE EplTOit. . _ Sir,—The New Zealand Licensing J!eform Association has made the- specific charge that the New Zealand Alliance has changed its declared policy of "The Abolition of the Liquor Traffic by direct vote of the people." The onus of proving this rests on the' association, which has been challenged to prove that the Alliance has ever done anything inconsistent with its democratic policy. The issue is one for judgment by the public, which is entitled to a plain statement of the facts. .; '

The weight and worth of any statement.may. be determined very largely by the character and reputation p£ those

making it. In this case the 'facts are a matter of public record.

What is the New Zealand Alliance ? It is an organisation representing a concentration of the moral forces of the Dominion foeussed on the liquor evil. It is recognised, by many of the , churches as their agency in this, matter. 'Its:funds are derived largely from voluntary,contributions by church congregations, and in addition, by voluntary contributions from citizens o£ all creeds, of all parties in politics. These contributions frequently are made at definite personal sacrifice in, the interests, of health and happiness in the pominioji as a whole.; . The Alliance Constitution provides for official leuresentation of the Band of Hope. Union, W.C.T.U., V.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A.-, Salvation Army, Good Templavs, Eechaliites, and Sons .'of Temperance, at. its annual meeting. The". N.Z. ■ Licensing Eeform: Association describes itself as -'consisting". of "The Licensed Trade in all its sections, the Moderate League, and.the Associated Clubs which have license's to"sellliquor). Its funds are derived from :those who have a direct financial interest in the sale of intoxicants,. . .

The nature of an organisation may bo determined by: an examination of the reputation of its components. Everybody knows what the bodies composing the N.Z. .Alliance stands for.and do ia the community. AYe may.-; ascertain from public records what the bodies composing the. N.Z. Licensing Reform Association do. - : . . '. :; : : '' .. ; ,

Actions are the acid test proving who ia willing to trust the people. A deputation of the entire annual '-meeting of the N.Z. Alliance,in" May, 1924, waited on the late Prime Minister, and asked for. the repeal of the present provision of the law./which provides that if Prohibition jis carried no further'pollshpuld be taken. The Rev. John Dawson: then : stated, as reported in the Press: "We believe that this 16 a. people's question, and want the poll tal?en all-the same after Prohibition is carried.".' The. Alliance still -adheres to this,-.which will enable the people to give Prohibition .la fair-"trial, and then vote it:.out if they are not satisfied with it. The'-Licensing Keform; Association suggested, nine years as a period of.'trial, for its schemes. ..,- Sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander, but the Alliance is willing that thepeople's representatives should determine what, is afairperiod of'trial. •■■"-... . ' . '.-.

The ;,New -Zealand Licensing' Reform Association is definitely asking members of Parliament to support proposals which involve, taking away the people's right'to vote, every three-years, -arid the people's right to "elect Licensing'^Committees. , : '.

lihas beeir made a matter of reproach to,,the/Alliance .thatit has approved of the manner in' which National. Constitutional. Prohibition Avaß adopted' in the TJ:S.A.: It is" true that 24 States carried Prohibition by, popular vote, and addi= tional large areas were under No-license before National Prohibition began, and that the^peopleiof^the 'D : S;A; in 1916, ..elected a Congress for tlie express : puiv pose of effecting National Prohibition by constitutional ;means.: But all this has nothing, to do.-with'the point at issue. The public may : be- left;- to,' judge 'whether the Licensing ReformS'Association or the N.Z. .Alliance,is most, entitled' to public confidence and support. : ;.:.:. '■■ : With crocodile; ;tears,in.its. eyes, ■ the association - "deplqres" been forced into politics' byi reason of the fact that' the naughty', N.Z.;. Alliance at its annual ' meeting_, held '■. in JVlay,'"'•'l92s, adopted 'ascertain-.resolution.-1 The fact is: the association -waa. in politics, nearly two years before then.' Thesproof is found in a. circular, letter on .the Alliance files, addressed by the association .to members of; /Parliament,: .- dated -l9tjji July, \ 1923, .and signed': by Mr. :B. 'A. Armstrong. True, that letter does not ask.for a specific pledge of support, .but doe's anybody suppose^ the association. writes: to:-:mem-bers of Parliament just for the pure plea-, sure of corresponding with our representatives T Moreover, -a very .large number .of membsrs!qf Parliament know that the liquor interests, included in the association have exercised political "pull" for a great many years, and are still doing it. —r am, etc, .-'-,-:. ■' : ';- -;;;:-;

J. MALTON MURRAY, Assistant Secretary, New. Zealand Alliance.- • 27th' June, 1925. '