SOLDIERS AND DRINK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2666, 11 January 1916, Page 6

SOLDIERS AND DRINK

EVES OF TREATING DEFENCE MINISTER MAKES AN APPEAL. ; , Soma remarks on the'subject of injudicious "treating" of isolcliers, and on , tho evils following -upon this misplaced '• were made to a reporter by l the -Defence Minister .' (the • Hon. J, Mien) yesterday. J . authorities' had made no great . in regard to licenses, said ; ® i S^cr i exco pt to stop the supply- : of bottles of liquor to 6oldiers in ; uniform, and to prevent anyone taking liquor to them, but he understood, ali though lie. had 110 definite information J oil the, matter, that,there was at the I; present time mo. proper observation of those regulaions. "I want to bo per- ' Jcciiy understood," he added, "when I :: say that if any breach of these instruc- , xions is discovered those responsible will ;; co dealt with severely. And I ask those yvho are licensees of hotels to carry the i instructions out in the letter and spirit, ; sis I don't want to use tho power I : lhave—l would rather tru6t to the honour of the people themselves. But ; there will be 110 hesitation about it j.ionco any offence is discovered. I give ; ; them fair warning.;. y

Liquor on Troop Trains. : '.'ln regard to troop trains," continued : Air. Allen, "I also again warn people . that there is a regulation in existence (..that no liquor is to.be taken on a troop ■ tram either by soldiers or civilians. But ; an. regard to-ordinary trains on which i soldiers travel, and in tho country where ~ jraldiers may : happen to be, I make tllis appeal to the public .- That they j/shoiild not, on any occasion, treat {.-Mldieiis. The men, as far as I know, , dont want it; they would rather re- ' tain their self-respect, and obtain what thoy want themselves, than be treated ■by tlio public. Unfortunately, treating r lifts led some men-soften .young men— .jnto difficulties in regard to drink. I - Feel certain that the people, once they .. realise this, will lend a hand, one and ■; nil, to stop it. lam speaking without the book; but if no notice is taken v.of.tkls appeal to the publicjit will'probably bo necessary for somo action to bo ■ taken. Specific Gases, "Here," continued the Minister, "is letter. I will not say whom it, is ..from, but it deals with tho evil of treat- . .ing returned soldiers. It mentions two . specific cases, one a man discharged j from. hospital, who, when he left the : institution, was looking fit and well, but 1 ;swho now .is., constantly seen under the' influence of liquor. The story in regard jto - the other man is similar. I undeiv ; .stand, both cases were owing to the ; 'shouting' ;of those whom 'they met." i Mr. Allen added that a great deal of i evidence; had; been sent tohim as .'to : -what was going on, and it was not by ; any means only from Prohibitionists. Mr.-Allen mentioned the evidence of a ' man '.who lived- in an hotel, who said that- trouble was frequently caused "by ,V li<juor • being given to soldiers, chiefly f jivitli-the idea of' giving tliem a goocl . time and hearing their recitals of their ■.- experiences. Hie men were often not ■ in a. fit physical condition to stand the liquor ■ and i appeared among the public in a state of intoxication and brought discredit upon the uniform

r .i The Transgressors are Few. v. "I most emphatically state that tho j ftulk.of -the soldiers are particularly • decent men," declared the Minister, ; '"and . what I have said refers to a few who are led into difficulties by the stupidity—l cannot call it by any other name—of those who think they are do- ; ing them a. kindness. I wish to emphasise that it is of the few I speak,, and-that my remarks are not to bo gen-' ' orally, applied. I 'wish also to say that ' people Who see soldiers under the influence of liquor must not altogether : blame the returned soldiers. As far as ; I can see, the returned 1 soldier is better in this respect than the men in the ; oarnps. Neither do I'say : that things in this respect are getting worse; rather, : .I think, they are -improving-. 1 "L make this > urgent appeal to the pubhc to refrain from 'shouting' and ; 'treating': soldiers, and I also appeal to !' soldiers to refuse to accept drinks from anyone. I am sure soldiers are selfrespecting and can pay for their own . needs, and do not want people to help . .them to drinks." '" v The Minister said he' had . discussed • 'this matter with Snrgoon-General Henderson, who had expressed the opinion ' that the public should be appealed! to . through the Press not to practice o''shouting" in regard to returned sola resort to an appeal proved , unsatisfactory, then a law might be ad- ] ,Vantageously. brought in. ■. "We have not so far adopted much legislation," concluded Mr. Allen. "We have appealed to the pub- ; lie instead as necessity has arisen, and v eo far our appeals have been well met; ; aiid I hope it will be equally.well net ; in this case. If we can go along in this j iway, it will produce a much more selfrespecting people than if we had to ; -tight things by the pressure of the law rather than through the conscience of ; : tho people. I hope that the. Press will, / 'help lis by making-, public this,appeal."-'