SOLDIERS AND POLITICS, ETC.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 6

SOLDIERS AND POLITICS, ETC.

Sir,—l am sure that the soldiers in camp ought to be.very grateful for the way the amateur politicians and newspaper correspondents are sq stoutly, protecting them 'against imaginary "soldier grievances." ' Prom the newspapers it would appear as if the soldiers are not protecting the people, but that the people are protecting the ■ soldiers. One correspondent considers that the soldiers are going auray in thousands in order to defend the rights of publicans to keep their beer palaces open until ten o'clock p.m. Another thinks that they are fighting for the freedom of people to play golf on Sunday, quite regardless of the fact that not one. in a hundred of the soldiers havo ever played golf in their lives: Then another "fighting" correspondent domanda that race meetings must not bo touched. "Aro not our soldiers; fighting for liberty—tho liberty of keeping horse-races going"? I have been in camp for about twelve months, and have mired with over thirty thousand mon, and it is quite absurd to think for a moment that there is any united opinion among them on any single political or social question. The writer of this letter is a life-long total abstainer, and there are great numbers of sucli hero. When. it is realised that over 206,000 people voted for prohibition last election, it must be plain to all that a great quantity of our soldiers must be such. As to six o'clock closing, a vote in camp would show that a heavy vote would bo given for it. . I am euro thore is one subject most of the mon agree on, aud that is that they have no wish to dictate to the million residents of New Zealand as to what they should do in regard to the drink trade. Further, they don't want the brewers and publicans to act as their protectors. Let the publicans entrench themselves behind their' beer barrels and fight their own battles, and not profess a love for tho soldiers they do not really possess. The publicans are making big dividends out of soldiers, and charge a price for their beer which would make an ordinary profiteer blush with shame. • To sum up, my point is, let the publio leave the soldiers alone. Wo are doing our bit to destroy Prussianism and barbarism. On other questions we are as divided as the general public are. iliere aro all sorts of opinions on religion, prohibition, golf, racing, etc., ad nauseum. "Down with Germany." That is the soldier's motto. As to beer and races, let the brewers and racing magnates stop professing to be acting in our interests. It is sickening.—l am etc A TEETOTAL SOLDIER "