TROOPERS & LIQUOR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2393, 24 February 1915, Page 7

TROOPERS & LIQUOR

SALVATION ARMY CAMPAIGN.

Tie Salvation Army authorities are taking active steps in connection with the total abstinence propaganda among the troopers, and from the first have pioneered the movement known as the K. of K. pledge in New-Zealand. To further consolidate the movement, a crowded meeting, under the Salvation Army's auspices was held last evening in the Publio Hall, Trentham camp. Lieut.-Colonel Potter (tho camp compresided. The troopers evinced much interest in the speeches, which they freely applauded, and called for cheera for the pledge at the close of the meeting.

The chairman, at the outset, read a telegram from the Minister of Defence regretting that owing to pressure of business he. was unable to be present, and.adding: "I am quite in sympathy with any movement that will assist the soldier in camp to resist the. temptation of drink, and shall be glad to do anything I can to further any movement which will tend to keep them fit for any emergency, and increase their fitness during the war time." The reading of the telegram was received with loud applause. Captain Garner, Salvation, Army chaplain at the camp, made a pressing appeal to the men to take the K. of E. pledge. Lady Stout stressed Lord Kitchener's appeal, and quoted tha views of the late Lord Roberts, Sir F. Treves, Sir Victor Horsley, and others, as being totally opposed to the use of alcohol. Sho criticised the proposal to establish a "wet" canteen at Trentham, and urged all troopers to become total abstainers.

The Rev. J. Dawson spoko of the great value of a pledge. He congratulated Commissioner Hodder and the Salvation Army in. taking 'this forward move.

The Rev. H. Harvey, on behalf of the Bishop of Wellington, expressed his Lordship's warm approval of the object of tho meeting. (Cheers.) Commissioner Hoddcr delivered a vigorous speech, and said we oould liot afford to look with indifference upon our European foes, and unless we quitted ourselves like men, were strong, and Came to the foe with sober- heads, resolute, and inflexible in our purposes, we were going to be knocked out. That was a fact.. Lord Kifcohener realised the supreme necessity-of resisting the temptation of drink, and while he himself did not oome forward to advocate the pledge personally, the nearest one to 'him had come forward in the name of her brother, and said, "Men, let us put this terrible thing down." If they did not put it down, concluded the Commissioner, it would put them down. (Cheers.) They were confronted with a most serious situation, and he confidently appealed to them, as one man to another, to determine, by God's grace, that they would abstain from drink—at all events during; the period of the war —if they could not see their way at present to permanently banish the evil from their lives.

Dr. PJatts-Mills also spoko, and the Chief Secretary of the Salvation Army (Liont.-Oolonel Powley) niado a strong personal appeal to the men to sign tho pledge. At the close a largo number of men, amid- cheers, signified their intention of signing tho declaration. • Miss Brittain and Adjutant and Mrs. Bladin contributed vocal items during the evening.