TREATING TROOPERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2271, 3 October 1914, Page 8

TREATING TROOPERS

'APPEAL BY DR. SPROTT

The Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott) writes to the editor as follows:—..

Kindly permit me. to appeal' through you to the citizens of Wellington scrupulously .to avoid the mistaken kindness of treating members of tho Expeditionary Force to intoxicants. I understand that tho military ■ authorities have strongly 'warned'the men against tho practice, but ihe warning needs public backing. Only this morning wo read of a young trooper who has got himself into trouble by resistance to the police. I do not say, for I do'not know, that in this particular instance, tho blame lies with some thoughtlessly kind citizen. But I am informed by a credible witness that ho had himself seen troopers "taken by the - arm and led into bars, because "they have refused verbal -persuasion, and that in some cases men rwlio have never tasted strong drink behave been so treated hv citizens."

I do not know what penalty the military authorities impo-so for intoxication; but I should not be surprised to learn that in somo instances at least the penalty is dismissal from the service. Yet our troopera are not social outcasts. They are tho pick of the young manhood of New Zealand, to whom we are looking with prido and confidence to render efficient aid to the Empire in the very crisis of its fate. It is probably only a few who' find themselves unable to resist tho solicitations of friends, but oven so, suroly citizens can. find somo, saner, nobler way of showing appreciation of good-fellowship than by. overpersuading them to break tho_ regulations of a most honoured service, aad to degrade themselves.—-I am, etc,

THE BISHOP OP WELLINGTON. "P.S.—I havo just learnt that the wives of Cabinet Ministers havo sot up a committee to provide for the entertainment of- the troops, and would, I am sure, bo glad to receive contributions."