The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1914. A MODERATE PARTY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15397, 14 July 1914, Page 6

The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1914. A MODERATE PARTY.

Tlie fact that the moderate party on the liquor question promises to become an active force at last must rejoice those who admire the Golden Mean, as well as the Golden Rule. Our Prohibition friends hare constantly asserted that there is no moderate opinion on this subject. Because there lias been choice between only two voting; issues hitherto, they would argue that all the people of -few Zealand are divided into two classes, those who approve the liquor traffic with all the imperfections that surround it, and those who accept a very desperate, untried, doubtful specific as the one cure for existing evils. It would be a strange phenomenon if human opinion really was divided on any subject so sharply and exclusively as that, and, as a matter of fact, thousands of people have voted for both Continuance and National Prohibition, not because they were satisfied with either issue, but because there was no other open to them. It is not surprising- that these people, who have been the victims of two sets of extremists formerly, are beginning now to find their own voice and make it heard. Steps are being taken now in "Wellington to form an association, with branches throughout Xew Zealand, which will put forward a definite, policy for the moderates, and give to their views the advantages of organised support and propoganda. which hitherto have been enjoyed only by the extremists. Last night, without suggestion from the Wellington movers exec])!, such as had been afforded by the telegraphed report of then deputation to the Prime Minislev, a meeting was held in Titnai'ii to consider what might he

done here to show some middle way between the extremes of Prohibition and Coiitimianc-e. The circular by which the meetin"' was convened asked for the attendance of persons '*' who are opposed to national and local Prohibition and who have no pecuniary interests in the liquor trade/' and though the meeting was summoned at short notice the response was more than encouraging both as regards the numbers present, and the standing of its members in the community.

yo one who might have been present. in contravention of the circular's limitation could have suggested that this meeting had been insidiously organised by "'the trade,'' and the proposals put forward by its members for stronger checks to prevent the sale of bad liquor, which is most conducive to intoxication, special inspectors, whose duties would be limited to hotel sxipervision, and more drastic penalties for breaches of the licensing regulations, as well as greater opportunities for enforcing individual prohibition, if incorporated in the Statute Book would make the licensed victualler's trade a very anxious one indeed. The chairman. Mr Cray, probably expressed the views of a .majority of the meeting he said that if he was convinced that National Prohibition would end the present evil of drunkenness, and not bring worse evils in its train, he would support it cheerfully, and endure the loss of personal liberty which that plan must involve for the great multitude who drink wisely, as well as the comparatively small number for whom drinking means excess. But the worse evils, which he recounted quietly and dispassionately, are, too. much. to be feared, and, in conjunction with the great economic and industrial dangers of Prohibition, afford ample reason why such a revolutionary experiment should not be tried till every- other means to increase sobriety has failed. The world's history has no evidence to show that Prohibition, unmitigated for objectors by plentiful supplies of liquor from across a boundary, could ever be enforced against free men by a small majority, or probable min-ority--since the Prohibition cause owes much to women in !New Zealand—of men voters. It is on the other hand well known that sumptuary laws—legal dictations of what men shall eat and drink and wear—have always been a failure. Human instincts are . not altered by mechanical enactments like a conjuring trick, and there are no patent short cuts, to morality, or the human race would deserve little credit for such progress as, inthe course of generations, it has made.

But these facts provide no reason why the liquor traffic | should not be restrained by the j most wholesome and efficient regulations that r> may be enforceable, and last night's meeting did good work in suggesting regulations which will be considered further, if the moderate movement here and elsewhere makes the progress which it deserves to make. It is understood that in some other centres, besides Timaxu and "Wellington,, the moderates are beginning to bestir themselves. If their organisation grows a' conference will be held in "Wellington, at which a moderate platform on the liquor question will be finally agreed to. Meanwhile a provisional committee has been formed for Timaru to watch events, and call a public meefmg when they have developed further. Supposing a national moderates" association, with a settled programme, is formed for the Dominion, it will not be able probably to influence the Bill for the reduction of majority on the' licensing question which is .\ow before the House. But a reduction of the majority required for carrying National Prohibition would only make it. more essential for the moderate people throughout the Dominion to show that there are other ways of effecting an improvement of admitted evils, less dangerous and dotibtful, if less radical, than the extreme way of Prohibition.

The Acclimatisation Society must be congratulated on the commonsense which has provided a solution of its latest difficulty ■vyithout the Supreme Court action which would have eausßil its useful pnor>rics to be suspended fur mi indefinite period, and made it the laughing-stock of the Dominion. The Society is doing good work for the sportsmen of South Canterbury and more beside. It can afford tj sink the jealousies of local factious whose continuance is always dangerous to its dignity and concord, and may become a strious danger to its usefulness. Of the latest trouble we may say " All's well that ends well," and hope, for the Society's own sake, . that, the division -.rliieh caused it, as well as the consequence, is now ended.

The annual report of the Public Trust Office is a pleasing document, which utterly destroys the allegations of some Opposition members that the Government, from some short-sighted motive, was bent on diminishing the usefulness to fhe community of this admirable institution, which owed its origin to a Conservative _ politician, the Hon. E. ('. -J. Stevens. Substantial increases of business ;ire shown under every heading of the rc-

port. More estates were jeolt with, their value was "renter the number of wills deposited creased. the capital f ml3 amounted to £6.360,707 < s . s against £5.799,446 in 1913), a »d the net profits were the laro—ston record—£29.222, as against n-i i,o^\t or J he ye v. The Public Trust. Office, clear'v, is in a most healthy and active state. The Opposition ha~e much reason to complain' agaui>t the facts which continually wilj not fit in with their impulsive tault-fmding assertions.