EFFICIENCY AND DRINK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3137, 16 July 1917, Page 7

EFFICIENCY AND DRINK

Sir,-1 notice a number of writers uro Endeavouring to make, - tho public believe that it will impose in hardship upon tho roldiere if the ljotel bars are closed at h o clock, and that that is what the ?w a T J i' s J Kr ' to to?** o this questionable hardship upon toe soldiere" What 1 Cf •£"#« ° f -tlw caseP Tho soldiers way w> divided, into three groups—the returned soldiers, the soldiers away on aouve service, and the eoldiers.in trainU J et ?,' the last-named- being the only froup that would be affectod otherwise tflaa civilians by 6 o'clock closing. Furtaermore, I think it would be quite safe to assume that 90 per cent, of our capable and, efficient soldiery would, prefer some aore intellectual, pastime than drinking Jβ a hotel bar. : There are. theatres, pic>mb theatres, marble bars, soldiers' tlnbs, and. if there should be insufficient .room in any of the places of amusement i think it oould be arranged with the management to call for volunteers to give JP ..their places, to tho soldier and .got Sheir money back, and I have no doubt |he oiviliana would respond with alacrity. ■if there are 10 per oent. .of tho soldiers ■in camp who would prefer tho hotel bar ,to the above "places of aniusoment—which a. very much doubt—l think they would be very much better without the drink. -In any case, Who are'the drinkers? ..According;,to the official" Tear Book •■the convictions wero: Moles orJy 12133 ■in 1914, and 12,010 in 1915; not much of a drop (123) considering the increased •Bumber of. soldiers on active service in 3915 and the increased cost, of living. It Beems that a large number of people are of opinion that wo can go on drinking iand thus impairing, our efficiency, and jvm the war, but Mr. Bnlfour informed *he people of the United States that they .do not realise what they are up against, and I think we, too, fail to realise what we are up against. We wish to do our bit to rid the world- of the German, menace, nnd if we are going to ho hampered *>y things that produce inefficiency it wilt take longer and cost-raoro.ui life and treasnro than it would if we wero all jout to win, which means more casualties, more taxation,, and a. longer term of, high cost of living. '. I think among otheiMhings ouj Govern. Tnent ghould immediately confer with the Homo Government to £e» if it would bo useful for our Government to endeavour fa get sufficient insulated, standardised tehips built suitable for the New Zealand trade to carry our -produce to their markets. This ■ country could frnd the Money, which goea a long way in gelling a job doue. Tenders could be called in the British Isles and in America, and Sf the; Home people sro tflo busy to bnild 'them there is no doubt. America "oould do the- job, knowing the money is assured.' I don't suppose one per cent, of her 113,000,000 people a.re engaged in ■war work yet. We are promised 17 ships soon, -Rnd will doutyless get them, but there is lots of Toom for more Apologising for trespassing on your valuable cpace,—X am,.etc., ' - ■■■

WIN THE WAR QUICKLY