SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 157, 28 March 1919, Page 8

SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR

DANGER ON TRAINS

REGULATIONS ?0 BE ENFORCED

'.-about TthV regulations regarding the supply of liquor to taturned soldiers travelling on troop trains was.made by the .Minister of Defence (Sir Jaiues Allen) yesterday. "There is p. matter," said the Minister, ?Vhich 1 should like to bring under themotice. of ; tlie public. .Tt is the question of the supply of liquor to soldiers on trains. I don't think the pul>lic realise that there are regulations in existence which prohibit this, and 1 want to cull attention to it In'order .that if the regulations should be enforced in future more stringently the public may not bo taken by surprise. "The necessity for it arises owing to the fact that liquor has been supplied to soldiers' on- troop trains. 1 had a very pathetic" letter from a lady tlio other day; a -portion of which 1 will quote. I should say tha,t this is only one of several similar complaints 1 have received. The writer says:—'lt is a most pathetic sight to see a mother meet her soldiereon who is drunk. Our hearts ached the .other day when' cue of our most respected families had this, mortification. Only a few days ago a weeping mother .was seen guiding hor staggering boy tilonsr our ,railway.^nhitform.' "Tho Government?' continued the Minister, "has considered the question of'closing the hotel liars close to the railway, stations when trains carrying soldiers aro going through,.but there are difficulties about doing this., and the Government is of opinion that it inny be more advisable-to r.dminister strictly the regulations. . I- .draw attention to Clauso i of the Regulations of November 15. 1915. ' This clause not. only makes it an offencO to have intoxicating liquor on troop trains, but also tn supply liquor to any parson being carried in a troop 'train. The expression 'being carried in a troop train' must bo read as applicable not only to those men who for the time being are actually on board the 'train, but also to men who during the 'course of their train journey may at any time be off the train, e.g., men who temporarily leave the train 'at a railway 'station. The -term 'troop train' is defined in the War Regulations Pamnhlnt as being not only a train reserved wholly for the purposes of the Defence forces, but also an ordinary train wholly or 'chiefly used for the r.srriago of men of ■ the forces. .... "I have written to tho Minister m "eha,Tge of the Police asking liijn to take snecial steps to see, that the-so regulations are strictly carried out. ' ( I- want to appenl to the public of l\ew Zenland to assist the Defence Department in their very earnest endeavour to .return the soldiers to their homes ■without any of the fvil consequences of over-indulgence in intoxicating liquor "There is no doubt about the need for these precautions. I saw myself the mo3t urgent need for it when I wiw travelling in a train which crossed a troop train at a way station. When our train was approaching a number of men, some of them wearing returned soldiers' badges and ethers of wearing uniform, who were undoubtedly the worse for liquor, got cut v* tho troop train. Some of the men actually cross-. «d the track in front of our train to get on to'the platform, and it seemed tome that there was grave danger of a-serious accident happening. I felt greatly relieved when our train got out of tha station without any sv.oh accident occurring. It is positively dangerous to the men themselves to hi'.ve men under the influence of liquor travelling in the trains. 'If an accident should lianpen from this oause I don't think ,the- BailT*fiy "f>nnrtmfmt could be "blamed, mid the Defence Department could not be blamed, but the civilians who defy the regulations by supplying sol* diers on trains must he blamed.'