LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3107, 11 June 1917, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SOLDIERS AND DRINK

Sir,—l read in a paper that, answering a deputation that waited upon the Bon. Sir James Allen at Nelson in regard to the drink question, more particularly concerning our soldiers, Mr. Allen eaid that ho had succeeded with the authorities at various ports of call where our troops landed eu routo for the front that the hotel bars should l>o closed during their slay there. In reading The Dominion I Bee this is confirmed. It said the transports had called at a port (not named), and while in harbour the hotel bars were closed. This is (food reading indeed, for which all can thank Mr. Allen. Now, sir, 1 am sure "you will allow me to ask him why the rocs to all this trouble to get the hotel bars closed in other lands but neglects to do the same here? Why docs not Mr. Allen clost the Wellington bars on these occasions? It seems such a strange thin? to me. He Rets other people to do what lie do_cs not do himself. If your correspondent in this morning's Dominion gives us the truth, viz., "In most, if not all, euch cases it is found that these men when on leave not merely drink all day. but the greater part of the night." cte. Well, would it not be !;ood iov such men (and we know them are) if Mr. Allen would do hero what In> «sks others to do elsewhere —close the hotel bars when the soldiers ' a ,,onleave?-lam,,^ TnEwAT; I Wellington, June 9, 1917.