THE LICENSING POLL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17097, 28 February 1919, Page 6

THE LICENSING POLL.

MODERATE LEAGUE'S VIEW.

THE RIGHT OF MINORITIES.

[BY TELEGRAPH,]

TIMARU", Thursday.

Speaking here last night, Mr. R. A. Armstrong, secretary of the Moderate Leaguo, said he observed that prohibitionists had criticised bis figures relating to crime and offences in no-license areas compared with tho whole Dominion. He wished to point out to the electors that the prohibitionists deliberately persisted in including the suburban no-license areas of Grey Lynn, Eden, Wellington South, and Wellington Suburbs, which had no Courts. All offences committed in these areas were debited to wet districts. He clifrgod the prohibitionists with _ deliberately misleading the people on this point. The prohibitionists were quoting Sir Robert Stout's eulogy of Masterton, but it was remarkable that the people of Masterton had been struggling to get restoration, and last election were only a few votes short of the required threefifths majority. The figures were:—For restoration. 3478; for no-license, 2753. He preferred to take the opinion of the people of the district so emphatically _ expressed rather than the opinion of Sir Robert Stout, whose bias in favour of prohibition was well known.

But since prohibitionists wero ready to quote Sir Robert Stout as one _ whose opinion should be followed, he desired to quote a letter written by Sir Robert Stout in the Timaru Herald of June 11, 1914, in which the Chief Justice said: "We are not all alike. There are differences in physical structure and mental equipment among our people. Wo cannot ail think alike. Let us strive as good citizens to see we have liberty. Whenever in the past there has been an attempt to bludgeon the people into conforming with the majority evil has resulted. We need to remomber tjjis to-day, for there seems to bo inculcated in the Dominion by many of our citizens a feeling that whatever a majority says should bo done. It is the nation that has recognised that minorities have rights, and that the oppression of Ihoso nonconforming to the majority is wrong that has led, and will lead, the way of progress, of civilisation, and of peace." (Applause.)