THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13983, 20 November 1919, Page 6

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

ADDRESS BY REV. R. S. GRAY.

A largely attended meeting in the Municipal Hall last night was addressed by the Rev. K. S. Gray on the liquor question. Mr T. F. Watson occupied the chair and introduced the Key. B. S. Gray in a few well-chosen words. In the course of his address Mr Gray said that ho was very pleased to address a Masterton audience, as Masterton was in a no-license district, and he felt sure the town was going to put on a bigger majority for prohibition thaiv the coming election. The speaker referred to the alleged misrepresentation of the soldiers by the Moderate League during the recent referendum upon the liquor question. He gave the leaders of the Moderate League the He direct, and stated that he wished the statement to be published in. every palter in the Dominion. Mr Gray strongly deprecated the efforts of the_ Liquor Party iu''using the returned soldiers and their badges upon posters. The speaker referred to the action of the United States and Canada in cutting out liquor, and traced the prohibition movement in those countries. Mr Gray claimed that' the United States had cut out the liquor traffic on economic grounds. America had a great advantage commercially, owin.ir to the war, over Great Britain, and the speaker claimed that, with the additional advantage of increased efficiency, the United States was out to capture the commerce of the world. Mr Gray urged his hearers to vote National Prohibition at the coming poll, and then, if State control is desired, to take a poll in three years' time, and establish State Control_at no cost to the country. In conclusion, the Speaker detailed his experiences in the American dry State of Kansas.

Mr James McGregor proposed a vote of thanks to the speaker, which was carried by acclamation. The singing of the National Anthem brought a successful meeting to a conclusion.