FACING BOTH WAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 240, 19 March 1915, Page 5

FACING BOTH WAYS.

MR ALLEN AND THB WET CANTEEN. By Telegraph—Press Association. *j Wellington, last night. " . Referring to the Press Assoelatioaj message from Auckland, stating that] the Hon James Allen, Minister of Defence, had told a deputation from th4j A\ omen s Christian Temperance Union that he bad already given an nssur-: anee that 110 wet canteen would b'ei established at Trentham, Mr A. A. S< Mont oath, 'president of the New Zealand Moderate League, stated to-day, that the executive were surprised at the announcement, as, in replying to; the league's deputation, a few (lays ago', }lr Allen had said that he had an open mind on the question, and would, if found endeavour to find means of getting round the law in order that a wet canteen might bo established. So far as the league knew, this was Sir Allen's last public pronouncement, and they were writing to the Minister, asking whether he had been correctly reported in yesterday's message, and, if so, to whom the assurance referred to had been given. (The message, which was not. sent to New Plymouth, was as follows: "Replying to a W.C.T.U, deputation, the Hon J. Allen said he had already given an assurance that no wet canteen would be established at Trentham. Legislation would not allow it, although. if he were prepared to do"so, there was a possibility of getting round the laW i but he knew the effect of liquor in camps, and did not intend to alter existing arrangements.")