WET CANTEENS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20056, 30 September 1939, Page 4

WET CANTEENS

LIQUOR UNDER CONTROL SMALLER CRIME-SHEETS BEER FOR THE TROOPS P.B, DIGGERS’ OPINIONS Opinion among Gisborne Diggers, based upon the experiences of the Great War, is almost unanimous in support of the request of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association that wet canteens should be installed in the camps where members of the Special New Zealand Military Force are to be trained.

Discussing this proposal last evening, the executive of the district association endorsed the request to the Government, pointing out that liquor under control in the camps was less likely to lead to liquor out of bounds.

Quoting the experiences of the Great War camps, members of the executive referred to the large number of minor crimes recorded against men who had to go out of camp foT their liquor, and who took the opportunity of imbibing more freely than was necessary. Where wet canteens were allowed, as in the camps in Britain and France, drunkenness was notably absent, and crime-sheets were never disfigured by charges against good soldiers who, free for a limited period to take liquor, went “over the odds.”

The opinion of a medical man on the executive was that men in training would be better in health if they abstained from alcohol altogether. This member agreed, however, that total abstinence was an ideal hardly likely to be achieved among men brought together in large numbers in wartime; and that as an alternative control of liquor in camp was preferable to free and excessive drinking in towns. The executive formally approved the proposal of the national headquarters, the vote being unanimous.

IMPATIENT RECRUITS KEEN FOR SELECTION Requests for information as to the possibility of their being called upon for service in the early future have been received from a number of recruits living in the country who have passed the medical examination for admission to the special military force, but who have not received notice in the first selection of men for training.

These young men, typical of the best in New Zealand in physique and in enthusiasm, are not in close touch with the Army office in Gisborne, and they are concerned lest the difficulty of communication may hamper their chances. They are also anxious lest there may be some feature of Government policy which may affect their chances of early selection. First District Quota Full

No information is available as to how long these young men may have to wait. The district quota for the main body of the special military force is now filled, and there will be no more drafts sent for at least two months, so far as can be learned in Gisborne. Those who have enlisted and passed the medical examination are advised to return to their jobs, and to wait with what patience they can muster for the call, which may be delayed but which now seems fairly certain, in view of the Minister of Defence’s statement that in the next four months a further 8000 troops will proceed to camp. Notice to Selected Men Arrangements have been made for at least a week’s notice to be given to all men required for training for the special military force. This notice is barely sufficient for country workers, it is pointed out, as many of these men are shepherds and have dogs and horses to dispose of, besides personal arrangements to make on the eve of entering camp. This matter was taken up by the Gisborne executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association last evening, when a complaint was received from the Ruatoria sub-association to the effect that many men called for the first contingent had had no opportunity of clearing up their affairs, owing to mail difficulties having cut down the actual notice to a day or two in many cases. The district executive passed a mjotion recommending the Army authorities to issue notices by telegram, where there may be doubt about the addressee being reached in good time by post.