THE GENERAL ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16189, 26 September 1914, Page 10

THE GENERAL ELECTION

MODERATE LEAGUE'S ATTITUDE. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 25. At a mooting of the executive of the New Zealand Moderate League to-day tlio declaration of the New Zealand Alliance was brought under the notice of members, and the following resolution was carried: — "'lhnt in view of tho misleading declaration of the Now Zealand Alliance, the following tacts b<; made known to the public:—Thai, immediately the British Empiro became involved in the war tho Moderate League cancelled all its arrangements for public meetings throughout tho dominion, and had since used every endeavour to avert internal strife by making strong public representations for the postponement of tho general elections; that in contrast to this action the in the early stages of the national crisis declared for ' no cessation of warfare against strong drink, , and havo proceeded with their lectures, meetings, and selection of candidates for Parliament regardless of the internal bitterness and dissontion they wero stirring up at a time when patriotism and unity were regarded as paramount by every other organisation in tho dominion; that tho prphibitioniste havo also openly claimed that their campaign is of greater importance than the war in which the British Empire is at present engaged; that as tho New Zealand Alliance has called upon all its supporters to subordinate every other issue to that of prohibition nt tho forthcoming parliamentary elections, and to secure the return to Parliament of those candidates only who are pledged to carry out their extreme demands, the general public are warned of the danger attaching to this action, and are urged to take active steps to prevent the legislature from being dominated by an organisation whose only claim to public notice, end whose only policy lies in a persistent attempt to placo exaggerated, tyrannical, and impracticable legislative restrictions upon the social habits of the people." WEST COAST CANDIDATES. (From Odb Own Cobbespondent.) GREYMOUTH, September 25. ' Competitors aro, already practically announced for all the Nelson and West Coast electorates except Buller, but there will bo an election in Buller. Mr Colvin hae intimated hie intention of again coming forward, but who his opponent is to be is not yet disclosed. The present member will, of course, run in the Liberal interest. The Social Democratic Party is negotiating with a Wellington resident with the idea of putting him in nomination. The Government party organiser' visited Wcetport recently, but whether his party will start a candidate has not yet been made public. In the adjoining electorate of Motueka Mr Hudson (Government! will contest the seat with the sitting member (Mr M'Kcnzie). At Greymouth Mr Michel will again fight Mr Webb, and it is doubtful whether a Liberal candidate will interfere with them. Westland. will be asked to maice choice between the sitting member (Mr Seddon) and Mr Murdoch (solicitor, of Kumara). Messrs Atmore and Field will be the candidates for Nelson City, and Messrs M'Callum and Duncan for Wairau. THE TARANAKI SEAT. (Peb United Pbess Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, September 25. Mr Dan J. Hughes, a well-known settler, recently of South Taranaki, whore ho took a prominent part in public life as a member of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, director of the Kaupokonui Dairy Company, and an ex-representative Taranaki footballer, has been unanimously selected by the Liberal and Labour Federation to etand in the Liberal interests for the Taranaki seat at the general eleotion. DEFENCE OF THE TRADE. MANIFESTO BY NATIONAL COUNCIL. ,'Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 25. Regarding the liquor question, the fo'lowing manifesto has been issued by the National Trade Defence Council:—"At a meeting of the National Council of New Zealand this morning the following resolutions 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 havo devoted their money to patriotic funds and in various ways shown that the trade has placed tne 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 £15,000,000 to £20,000,000— in industrial concerns, investments, and property should be subjected to menace and destruction every three years, the trade has to rely upon tho 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 that it would be courting financial disaster throughout tho dominion to invite the electors to vote for prohibition, as by so doing , at least £1.000,000 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 economio waste when it contributes £1,000,000 to the revenue and employs many thousands ot industrious citizens. (2) That, viewing the physique of tho troops when leaving for. the front, to say the trad.e causes "physical inefficiency" among the young manhood of the nation is a wild fabrication and a gross libel upon young New Zoalanders. (3) That this council 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, physiquo, and patriotism of our solidiers, for as a people New Zealanders consume only one-third of the alcoholic beverages our allies, the Belgians consume, and, who will deny they are a magnificently brave, patriotic, and capable nation? (4) That the physical efficiency of the young people of tho 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 alcohol beverages, but among the abnormal, which are as frequently found in prohibitionist ranks and among no-license advocates. (5) That prohibition has done nothing to promote temperance habits among the intemperate, and that during the time of its agitation drunkenness has increased, dire, wo 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 doge, so to speak, the people's liberties, the country's revenue, and the property and businesses of the trade; a simple "majority of votes haying nothing to lose has no right to determine such vast interests. (7) Wo consider that a section of the people should not be encouraged at this juncture of our Empire's existence to jeopardise the interests of any class, nor should prohibitionists be allowed to menace the credit and revenue of the dominion at a time when these should bo soundly maintained. (8) That as the prohibition people arc avowedly more concerned for political power than "tho country's welfare, we appeal to all fair-minded electors, whatever their predilections otherwise may be, not to hand over tho keeping of the dominion's affairs to such a wanton and irresponsible party as tho nrohibitioniste havo proved themselves to be. (9) This council directs attention to the fact that only in two out of 12 " dry" electorates did, the no-license vote reach the majority required to carry no-license in 1911—that is to say, that in 10 no-liconso districts the policy of the prohibitionists could not havo been carried had tho vote been an originating one at the last election, thus showing that after a trial of no-license the inclination of tho people in no-license districts is to return to .licensing. This council, while openly declaring that tho trade as a trade has no politics, is hopeful that its friends and supporters will not encourage by their votes the reti'rn of candidates to Parliament who are rendv to place prohibition first and th<? industrial, commercial, financial, and eocial interests of the dominion nowhere; and th's council is more concerned for the country's than its own interests when it says that the return of such candidates to Parliament would be a calamity, far-rench-ing. disastrous, and iniquitous to New Zealand.' " _______________