THE DEFENCE BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 258, 7 December 1909, Page 4

THE DEFENCE BILL.

To the Editor. Sir,—Now that this important liill is circulated, many —a great many —are much disappointed that the New Zealand Government did not entirely exclude all intoxicants from military eneampineuts throughout the Dominion. The Common-wi-ulth Defence liill docs that, and wisely, too, ifor the use of alcoholic drinks is only a nuisance and a hindrance to eflicieucv, good order, and physical development, without any counterbalancing benefits. The iiill provides that the captecns shall be under the control of the commanding oflicer of the encampment, and that no intoxicating liquor i»' to be "sold or supplied" to any person under twenty-one years of age—which, of course, implies that it may be supplied to those of that age and over. Now, there is, 1 think, some unintentional humor about this regulation. The earlier parts of the Bill provide that, military training .shall lie in three grades; Junior CadeU, from twelve to fourteen years of age; Senior Cadets, from this to eighteen years of age; ami the Ceneral Training Section. JJv the age limit the first two sections are absolutely barred from the use of intoxicants, and it only remains to notice to what portion of the last section the privilege of getting alcoholics extends. At eighteen our young men enter the General Training Section, where the chief training is undergone, but iif they are paseed as "eJßcient" at the end of eaeh year's training for three years tiien ihev enter the reserve, "in which the training is to consist of two mus'U'r parades in each year." S\> by this we see th;\t it is the intention that all—duffers and wasters excepted—are expected to get through their military training by the time they reach the age when they arc entitled to the privileges of the use aud aid (?) of intoxicants. What does it mean? That the liberty to get the liquor is a reward for inelliciency. It looks like dangling something before our smart young men which they are wot likely to get, and putting something in the way of the dullards which will make them duller s'till. Of course, in this I pass by tho permanent officers—who have their own mess—ami the Territorials; having regard only to the largest and most important division oi those miller training—the General Training Section. In the face of all this it is time that a strong protest were sent to our Premier against tne canteeu 'provision in the Bill.—l am. etc., GEO. n. MAUNDEK.