LET WELL ALONE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2703, 24 February 1916, Page 6

LET WELL ALONE.

Sir,—l was pleased to see that a number of citizens have written to your paper regarding the movement that is to foe set on toot to bring about tho eariy closing of hotel and club bars. The tiling that appeals to me is whether, firstly, there is any real justification for such action, and, secondly, what effect it would actually have. If, as is claimed by.somo people, there.is excessive drinking going on among the soldiers, there must be some odicial record of same. So far the only statement made public on this" matter is that of tlie Minister of Defence, who says that only three men have been discharged for drunkenness out of the forty thousand odd that have been in tho training camps. If, however, there ,is any 7 eal amount of drunkenness, it must be due to a condition that a mere alteration of the liours of sale cannot hope to •better. My firm opinion is that wet canteens should be set up at tho camps, under proper military regulation, the profits to go to regimental funds. This Is the custom in' Great Britain, and surely the military authorities at Home must be in the .best position to judge the value of such a provision. We must not allow the unfortunate experiences of Australia to cloud our judgment in this matter. In New Zealand things are running very smoothly all round, our men are doing well in every way, and are' bringing credit to the Dominion. It seems possiblo-that some people are a trifle apt to exaggerate certain phases inseparable from the gathering together of large bodies of men who have stepped outside the ordinary influences of their lives, and are largely free agents except for their. responsibility to the State. There are always a few hot-heads in every crowd. So far as the movement for early closing is concerned, I would suggest in the kindliest spirit to those responsible for 'it that it would bo wise to let well alone. Tho stirring up of those soctional divisions that inevitably follow any dispute on the liquor question is most undesirable at tho present time, and should be avoided as far as possible.—l am, etc., WET CANTEEN.