WIN-THE-WAR AND LIQUOR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3150, 31 July 1917, Page 7

WIN-THE-WAR AND LIQUOR

Sir,—From your correspondence columns I. notice that quite a number of correspondents aro still discussing that evergreen question. There is a great lack of common sense on the part of those correspondents who think that the abolition, or even the curtailment of the sale of liquor in New Zealand is going to make a bit'of difference to the carrying- on. of the , war in Europe. AVe have had now three years of 'war, and the troops' from New Zealand sent away under the existing conditions as to the sale of alcoholic liquors are unsnrpassfd in morale, fighting qualities and good, behaviour. Yet

some people are anxious for us ,to believe that alcoholic liquors have lowered our national military efficiency. Such a view is nifre moonshine. The French and the Germans and the Belgians consume far more per head of alcoholic liquors—say, four time more—than tho people in New Zealand; and can it even bo said that these nations have had their efficiency lowered by their consumption of alcoholic liquors? It is a pity that the German nation had not lowered its military efficiency by alcoholic liquors; and yet the Huns consume four times more liquor than the people in New Zealand. There is no sense of proportion among people who, belonging to New Zealand, say that New Zealand's national efficiency is. being lowered by drink. Some of thesfi people want us 'lo become like tho Bnssians. For nearly threo years the Prohibitiouiste of New Zealand have been praising the Russians, because they adopted the prohibition of vodka. But look at tho Bnssiuns—ever since they adopted prohibition they' have literally, gone to tho dogs, in every respect;, morally and militarily. The excesses of their- revolution have not yet been written. Still, our Prohibitionists regard tho Russians as quite exemplary! Everyone not obsessed by prohibition, however,' knows that Russia under prohibition is the weakest part of the Allied combination. Where are the lowest recruiting records to be found in New Zealand? In the No-License districts. I, like the "Pahiatua Returned Soldier's statement in which ho says that a good chaplain with a flask of brandy saved his life arid ministered to his soul.—l am, etc., JOHN PLOWMAN, JR.