MODERATE LEAGUE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 561, 26 November 1915, Page 3

MODERATE LEAGUE.

CANTERBURY BRANCH.

ANE UAL MEETING. . '

i The annual meeting of the Canterbury | branch,'.of the New Zealand .Moderate League was held last evening, Mr' A. Boyle presiding--'-' " In moving the adoption of the annual report" (already published); Ahe^'.chairman said:'— c 'lt has,l think, been amply proved that the formation of the Moderate' League has filled;a; long-felt yrant, and I honestly believe it lias done a great deal of good. It has most certainly drawn to its side men and womeii from both the extremist parties. It is, gratifying to know that at least a portion of the public believe the league is 'in earnest over its work, and that it has the-welfare of the Dominion, and the well-being of the inhabitants at heart. "Some of you no doubt have read the report of the deputation to the Prime Minister, who pointed out the impossibility of altering the present licensing laws during the period of this great and terrible war. This is, of course, evident to one and all. Yesterday Mr McNab kindly allowed the executive of the branch to discuss with him the best means whereby the existing laws could be more rigorously enforced. We pointed out to him what we considered were the most vital points, and he assured us of his willingness to bring our requests before the proper authorities. He admitted much might be done with the present laws to better the existing conditions, and it is the intention of this league not to rest until they have shown that their existence is worthy of support of at least the moderate public." Mr K. S. Williams seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr R. C. Bishop said the war had interfered with the progress that would otherwise have been made by the league. They intended to continue the good work, and he believed they had a I large body of support at their back. He! hoped as time went oii they would be I able to carry the work to a successful j issue.

Mr Armstrong (Dominion organiser) said "the Licensing Committees at the present time had very small powers. They were asking that legislation should be passed to give greater powers to the committees to enquire into the fitness of licensees and the tenures of the censes. If the tenures could be made more secure it would mean that a great deal more free capital would be put into the hotel business. The only people prepared to advance money to the hotel business were the brewers and the wine and spirit merchants, and that was why so many licensees were tied to their brewers* and wine and spirit merchants. The league was asking for a Eoyal Commission to enquire into the whole question of licensing control, and on whose findings better legislation could be framed. The executive in Wellington had decided not to try to ,extend the league at present, because they felt it would be very wrong to go round the country dividing the people on the liquor question at present. They were, however, keeping an eye on events, and they would take any necessary steps at the right time. Officers were elected as under:—-Pre-sident, Mr A. Boyle; executive, Messrs R. C. Bishop, M. S. Brown, Frank Graham, W. M. Joynt, Arnaud McKcllar; hou. secretary, Mr P. A. Laurie.