A CITIZENS' MATTER.

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

A CITIZENS' MATTER.

Sir,' —It is very strange 10 find bo many anonymous correspondents in your columns objecting to anonymity mothers! You havo quito a lot (of date February 23) of rather excited stuff re early closing of hotels. One rather grandiose person signing himself ''Trust the Men!" wants to put tho whole onus of this question of early closing of hotels upon the already overworked Minister of Defence. It is not a Ministerial matter at all. It is a citizens' matter, and a very important one. 'We all see through the thin, very thin; claptrap about the sobriety and trustworthiness of. the men. Writing as a mother of sons, I not only know that my boys are sober and trustworthy, but I would move Heaven and earth to keep them so. If the soldiers aro so very sober,, the closing of the hotels at 6 p m. will bo at the worst a slight deprivation only. If they aro not, then we, as citi-

Zens for whom they will cheerfully give their lives if need be, can iurely give up. this extra drink profit to help these men to honourably uphold the dignity of His Majesty's uniform. Further, if a man is to keep' physically lit, a certain abstinence is imperative. No man training to take part m games will touch alcoholic drink at all, and is any game half as worthy of thorough fitness as this life struggle of the Empire ? Perhaps when this citizens' committee (to'whom we arc very grateful) in its own good time may publish its members' names, we may hear again from your frightened "Diogenes," "Anotuer Citizen," and "Trust tho Men" by their true names.—Lam, etc., ANONYMOUS.