SOLDIERS AND DRINK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3134, 12 July 1917, Page 6

SOLDIERS AND DRINK

(To the Editor.) Sir,—The eternal liquor question is once more in the limelight, and is being discussed in the same old way, except that now the military aspect is involved, and the rights of the soldiers are being fiercely debated. Colonel Potter, Colonel Adams, Major M'Douald, Colonel K-ng-ton Fyftc, etc., have their views on the six o'clock closing question, wet canteen problem, etc. Here comes mine— a humble private's. I. would like, villi your.permission, to discuss the mailer from the men's point of view, as in niy opinion a lot of nonsense is being written at present as to the julitiers' temands.

To get right at the subject il is desirable to stale the conditions that at picsent prevail. At Featherston towns-hip there are two publichouses, which, even if closed at six o'clock, would still meet the drinking soldiers' requirements, ;i» five o'clock leave is very generously given by tho responsible officers, and !.- largely availed of. Between FeathersSiVi ami Tauherenikau there is another hotel, which is hardly a losing proposition to its proprietor. Even if closed at six o'clock, it would still meet the requirements of those thirsty men to whom bter is life itself. About a mile from Tapawai Military Camp is Greytown, with three hotels and a working men's club, which ought surely be enough. At Trentham the .same conditions pi&vail. My contention is that even if all the hotels in Wellington were closed altogether, tho soldier who ..{rinks would not be inconvenienced by six o'clock closing. As to tho mau who wants to spend his'whole fime at the bars up to ten o'clock, ho must Ve :i "soaker," and for his own sake should have the brake put on. As to week-end leave, soldiers who go to Wellington, the position is admirably and correctly put by your correspondent "Observer.'' The Trentham trains always arrive before, five o'clock p.m. Of the Fcatherstm troop trains, the first arrives before 5 o'clock, the last arriving at about nine o'clcck. It is quite obvious that no incoavcaiwee will b» caused soldiers on leave who want a glass, though no doubt the man who wants to "booze" mil be worried a bit. My own opinion is that tho "boozer"— soldier or civilian—is a nuisauce, and merits no consideration. Of course otners may differ, especially the brewers. Before dosing this letter 1 am very anxious to defend the rank and file from a mean reflccti'jii which I. have often resented. From statements generally made, especially by the "Trad?," one would believe that the average soldier is a thirsty individual, who must have his liquor at all costs. As if this mean lie is not bad enough, it is suggested that if the soldiers cannot get drink when they go to Wellington they will go to "worse" places—in plain language, brothels. It gives mo much pleasure to -give both statements the lie direct. The charges and insinuations are positively untrue. Fathers, mothers, and other relatives have no reason to fear for the moral welfare of their boys in camp. There are black sheep in every flock, and they are in these camps the same as they are in civilian life. The average soldier is n steady, clean, self-respecting mau, and knows how to control himself. As to thirsting for drink, civilians would be surprised if they knew how many go to prohibition Masterton, where drink is almost unprocurable. Why do they go? Because it. is a matter of indifference to them whether drink is procurable or not, so long as they have an honest good time, which they get there. If leave for Masterton was granted the same as it is to Wellington, Wellington would have a serious rival. As I have travelled repeatedly on all tho trains, to all the places before mentioned, during the last twelve months, I ought to know what I urn talking about. It might be asked, What is the soldier's attitude towards six o'clock closing? Tho soldier has no strong feeling either way. Some strongly contend for wet canteens, some as stroiigly support the "dry" as at present. Some, would like the hours fixed as ait present, most don't care much

cither way, while some don't hesitate to express their opinion against the whole business—lock, stock, and barrel. .The cause is easy to explain. At last election 247,000 adults voted to absolutely suppress the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquor; 257.000 voted tor License, In camp thousands of the young men come from prohibition and teetotal homes—thousands . from homes where alcoholic liquor is used. Changing their civilian clothes for a khaki uniform still leaves their political opinions unaltered. To sum up, my opinion is that tho soldiers' rights would not be inter-, feral with if six o'clock closing was carried, and the soldiers won't worry whatever happens. As for my own opinion, it is this: It may bo taken as an axiom everywhere, that whether in civil, industrial, or military life, the more a' man drinks the less efficient ho becomes, and the less ho drinks the more efficient ho is, and I am in favour of a 1 restrictions, especially six o clock closing.—l am, etc.,' A TEETOTAL SOLDIER.