REV. J. DAWSON AND DRINK.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2474, 29 May 1915, Page 7

REV. J. DAWSON AND DRINK.

Sir, —When speaking on drink to the .Hon. James Allen, the Rev. Mr. Dawson, the secretary to the Prohibitionists, referred to the statements of Ministers in England as to the effects of ■tie abuse of alcohol among workers in armament shops., Now Mr. Lloyd George was the only Minister' who charged the workers in that way: and if the Rev. Mr. Dawson had read the other side as put forward by the seoretaries to unions, by Mr. Keir Hardie and Mr. Robt. Blatohford, he would not lave made his disparaging remarks. The secretaries of unions pointed out that many of the best workers in armament shops had gone to the front, and some "wasters," who seldom got work, were employed, and when they got their pay thc-y spent their money and time drinking. Mr. Keir. Hardie went further. Ho repelled Mr. Lloyd George's allegation, and showed how the men had worked up to 84 hours a week in armament shops, and how some had become' so exhausted that they had to take two days off to recover, and their non-appearance wap put down to I drink. Concerning the complaints of the men and the accusations of their employers and the Minister, Mr. Blatchford said the men's complaints were justified. They saw the masters making huge fortunes out of largely increased armament prices, and they were working at the usual rates for time and overtime. Employers wanted Government aid to compel the men to work at these rates. The Ministers took advantage of all these circumstances as an excuse for their not having provided sufficient reserves of ammunition ■ and armaments before the war. Inquiry; has been made into the whole • position. The agitation for prohibition was brushed aside. The drinking propensities of the men wore inquired into, and Mr. Lloyd George wrote to the papers saying he only meant "a minority" had taken too much. But the harm was done.' The men were given t more wages, and the net result was i that "spirits are not to be sold under three years old," and a very good job, i too. Meantime, the man who tried to . screen his want of foresight in rot pro- , viding ample reserve ammunition by ; blaming the intemperance of the work- ; ers has been forced to resign. Yet i the Rev. John Dawson only tells hali the story.—l am, etc., ; WORKING MAN.