A "DRY" SHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 312, 11 June 1915, Page 4

A "DRY" SHIP.

(HOSPITAL SHIP AND LIQUOR. SPIRITS AS (MEDICINE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The protest of the O'lristcluirch Presbytery agahmt the use of spirituous liquor on the hospital ship was brought under the notice of the Minister of Defence to-night. The Minister said he jdid not think the Presbytery could have )ml full knowledge of what was being done in connection with the ship or else it would not (have, thought it necessary to make a protest in, the form reported in a telegram from Christ,chureh.

"As far as I know, although there ,has been no definite official decision in .the matter, the hospital ship will be a dry ship," said the Minister. "]!y that I mean that the staff will comply with the conditions laid down for our' training- camps, and will not be supplied with spirituous liquors except on the order of a medical officer. But it is necessary that we should include in the medical stores a certain amount of stimulant for use when the wounded and •sick are aboard. The liquor that is being placed in the ship—l do not know just what the quantities ore—is for medical purposes only. The quantity may appear large to some people, but they must remember that we have to provide all the stores ftat will be required for at least six months to come, and possibly longer. I presume that stimulants are required in connection with the treatment of wounds. At anyrate that is a matter for the medical authorities to decide, and I personally would not care to be. responsible for withholding from our wounded men anything that may assist them perhaps at a. time when a stimulant is urgently needed."