DRINK AND OUR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2716, 10 March 1916, Page 4

DRINK AND OUR SOLDIERS

The controversy which has arisen over the question of the early closing of hotels and the establishment of wet canteens at the Military Training Camps is something more than a military matter. The suggestion has been put forward that the only question to be considered is the possible. or probable effect of the changes under discussion on the training and efficiency of the solciicrs m camp. This is an erroneous, view. There is the welfare of the soldier as a man also to be considered; the effect of the early closing of the hotels on the habits of the civilian population; and in a lesser degree tho effect on the hotelkeeper who has committed himself to certain capital and working expenditure in tho exocotation oi being permitted to

carry on his business on certain linos during recognised trading hours. It must bo at once admitted that some considerations which would weigh with the public at ordinary times are regarded as of small consequence while the war continues. The claims of the hotelkeeper and the brewer count for less while the war is on than they would if .we were at peace. The vital issue, as was mentioned by one of our correspondents on the subject, is: What is best for our soldiers? Nine-tenths of the.public, we are confident, would be quite content to have' this matter decided on that basis alone. The difficulty that presents itself is to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion as to what is best. • It would be idlo to ignore the fact that the hotel burs of the City are very largely patronised by soldiers on leave, most of whom come from other parts, and being in many cases without friends here find the hotel bars an attractive social resort. The drinking that goes on may not be as bad as some people depict it, and the conduct of the soldiers as a whole has been so admirable that it, to a certain extent, _ disarms critic'sm of the minority. But could the position bo improved in the interests of tho soldiers themselves 1 Two definite sets of proposals have been made with this object in view. The New Zealand Alliance, tho organisation of the anti-drink party, has urged that the existing hours of the sale of liquor should be severely restricted, ancl that "shouting" should be macle illegal. The Alliance also opposes a proposal to establish wet canteens at the ca,mps. A War Necessities organisation, in no way associated with the anti-liquor movement, has urged restriction of the sale of liquor in the Wellington Military District to the extent of closing hotels from I o'clock till 10 o'clock each evening ; but in order to con pensate such of the men as care for a glass of beer for this loss would establish wet canteens at the camps, at which a light ale would be sold. The War Necessities Committee's proposals appear to be meeting with a good deal of support. In the first place they come from people who plainly are only concerned for the welfare of the soldiirs, and have no antagonism to the lictuor trade as ordinarily conducted. They ask that civilians shall forego for three hours each day the right they at present possess to purchase liquor; and they urge that this sacrifice should be made readily enough in the interests of the men who have come forward to fight and if need be die in defence of their liberties ancl future welfare. Who could refuso. so small a sacrifice if it were necessary? But is it necessary? Cannot tho end aimed at be attained by other means? Such justification as exists for the action of the War Necessities Committee arises largely from the fact thaS many of the men who come into the city drop into tho hotel bars for refreshment and stay there overlong as the result of the "shouting" habit; or because they have nothing in particular to do.j It is not necessary to close the hotels to prevent this. In England, where the wet canteens at camp and barracks are the rule, soldiers in uniform cannot be served at hotel bars. If wet canteens are provided at the camps and the men can obtain liquor there, under restrictions which would provide against drinking to excess, then there would be reasonable grounds for declaring hotels out of bounds. Tliis would not please the prohibitionists or the publicans, and it might not satisfy the War Necessities Committee, but it would serve the main purpose which most people have in view. The military authorities here, we believe, ouject to the wet cantcen, but properly conducted under strict military control these canteens would supply the needs of such as require liquor, and would be a justification for declaring hotels to be out of bounds. In replying yesterday to an _ anti-hquor deputation, the Prime Minister ( stated that it would be necessary to amend the law before the Government could interfere with the hours of closing of hotels. If this is tho case the law : should bo amended in the direction of giving the required authority. It is a very necessary authority for the Government to have even though it may not use it. Since the War Necessities Committee took, the field a week or two ago there has been a marked decrease in the number of soldiers seen about the streets the worse' for liquor. With the possibility of a loss of trading time hanging over them, strengthened by the fact that the Government held the power to make that possibility \ fchcre is reason to expect . that the condition of things would continue to improve. The fact should be noted by the hotelkecpers that tlio Prime Minister mentioned yesterday a police report which spoke ot the unsatisfactory I manner in which certain hotels were conducted in the matter of supplying liquor to soldiers. It may be that such hotels are few in number, and the majority of tho hotels here j may be suffering for the failures of the few;-but the public do not discriminate in such matters. Tho unsatisfactory hotels should bo known to those engaged in the trade, and it should be their business in their own interests to see that over-indulgence is not permitted. As the matter stands, the Primo Minister has promised that the representations made to him by yesterday's deputation respecting the imposing of further restrictions on the liquor trade will be placed before Cabinet. The decision of the Government will be awaited with both interest and concern. °