THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE METHODISTS.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2717, 11 March 1916, Page 7

THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE METHODISTS.

Sir,—When the R«v. W. 'A'.. Sinclair isked-'tne Prime Minister'to introduce legislation similar to what was in operation in England -under the Defence of the Realm Act, did he know that this was asking for hotels to be open in New Zealand for Sunday-trading? The i hotels in Great Britain in the restricted areas are opened for Sunday trading as well as being open all over unrestricted areas. It is only in restricted areas—areas under the governance of the Liquor Control Board—that new regulations are operating. If we are to be like Great Britain, are we to have Sunday trading?' ; The Rev. Mr. Sinclair wanted tho restrictions in. England—the Board of Control allows sales at varying hours

up to 9.30 in the evenings—to apply to Now-Zealand; and while lie wanted the same thing in New Zealand, where there is no necessity for such restrictions, there being no' munition works hero, he and'tho other Methodist ministers want -us in New Zealand to close at six o'clock. These Methodist ministers aro evidently ignorant of _ tho methods operating in Great Britain. Then-the Rev. Mr. Sinclair damns with faint praiso the merit of our soldiers. Ho said: "I do not believe a great percentage of tlie soldiers aro addicted to drink." But tho Minister of Defence, about three weeks ago, said: "Out 1 of 45,000 men trained and equipped in only three had been dismissed for'drinking." Yet the Rev. Mr. Sinclair did not believe there was a largo percentage addicted to drink. He ought to have, known, and probably did know, that tlioro was not a percentage at all, only one in 15,000 /'addicted to drink." The Rev. Mr.' Sinclair "believed" this, and "thought" that, but what ho believed was not correct, and what he thought was alike shadowy and incoherent. This is one of his thoughts: "I think a large percentage of them (soldiers) are teetotallers." Mr. Sinclair does not know the soldier if he thinks ten per cent, are teetotallers. Soldiers are not Methodist parsons or molly-coddles! <Tkey are mere men. The ■Methodist parson wants to treat them as children, and let me inform him the soldier won't stand this wet-nurso business from the people who think he is good enough to be entrusted with the killing of Germans, but not good enough to be entrusted with a glass of beer. The soldier is "fed up" with the idea that while .lie is in mufti he can have a drink, but when he puts on the.Kuig's uniform he is to be prevented from having one. The \Methodist parson, by emphasising this consideration, is probably retarding recruiting. , The Rev. Mr. Cocker was no better informed. He said: "Every country "since the war had placed restrictions upon the liquor trade." Every country before the war had.- placed restrictions upon the liquor trade. Britain, only in munition areas had greater restrictions been imposed _in one direction, and-greater liberties granted in another. Throughout the greater part of Great Britain there was no increase in restrictions since the war. If we follow Great Britain -wo will have wot canteens in camps and legalised Sunday trading all over. As thero are no muni, tion areas in New Zealand, more restrictions are not necessary. Russia abolished vodka, but beers ,and wines are as free as ever; the same with France in regard to absinthe, but whisky and other liquors are vended and all soldiers have' their daily supply df red wine or beer. The Rev. John Dawson said "he came not to attack the soldier, but to sympathise with him." He is the head of the Prohibition Alliance, and he told the Minister of Defence that soldiers were suffering from inefficiency through liquor. The Minister told Mr. Dawson over a month ago that he was quite wrong, and that only three out of 45,000had been dismissed for drinking. Yet Mr. Dawson lias tho effrontery to affirm to the Prime Minister that "most of the troubles with She men were directly or indirectly 1 due to drink'." This is another attack upon tho discipline of the soldier.. Who ever heard of "troubles with the men." There are none, but if the Methodists persist in these .attacks, while professing sympathy, there will be trouble with the men, not due to drink, hut for the want of it.. The Rev. Mr. Dawson put forward the excuse of panic for the overwhelming defeat of the Prohibition people at'last election, but he only put- that excuse forward on the ground of some 6ort of excuse being better than none; and if he knew the real reason for the overthrow of Prohibition and all its works in' December, 1914, the Rev. Mr. Dawson is too wily to_utter it.- '.What is the reason for the increased consumption of liquor? The Methodist ministers have been neglecting temperance for Prohibition and 1 the power of tho Gospel for a manmade law. Was it not the Rev. Mr. Dawson himself who deplored the abandonment of' Band of Hope work in tho Methodist Church., Of course'it was. These preachers 'are neglecting the first principles of temperance, which is moral suasion, and they are rushing into the limelight of. publicity, urging the powers of this earth to bring about the salvation of men with regard to one sin! Briefly, but diplomatically, the Pnmo Minister sent, them about their business.—l am, etc.,' > OBITER DICTA.