"TREATING" SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 January 1916, Page 5

"TREATING" SOLDIERS.

APPEAL TO MEN AND PUBLIC. ■A FINAL AVAKNING. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Last Night. An appeal to the public to refrain from "treating" soldiers, out of mistaken kindness, and some word? to the men themselves, were made 'by the Defence Minister to-day. Hon. Jas, Allen's remarks applied to returned sick and wounded soldiers, men in course, of training at the camps, and those about to undergo training. The authorities had made no great alterations" in regard to licenses, said the Minister, except to stop the supplying of bottles of liquor to soldiers in uniform, and to prevent anyone taking liquor to them, but he understood (although lie had no definite information on the matter) that there was at the present time no proper observation of these regulations.

"I want to be perfectly understood," he added, "when I say that if any breach of these instructions is discovered those responsible will he dealt with severely, and I ask those who are licensees of hotels to carry out the instructions in letter and spirit, as I don't want to use the power I have. 1' would rather trust to the honor of people themselves, but there will be no hesitation aiiout it once any offence is discovered. I give them fair warning. T also again warn people that there is a, regulation in existence that no liquov is to be taken on a troopj train, either by soldiers or civilians; but fn regard to ordinary trains on which soldiers travel, and in the country where soldiers may happen to be, I make this appeal to the public that, they should not on anv occasion treat the soldiers. The men," as fur as I know, don't want it. They would rather retain their self-respect and obtain what the want themselves than be rrentotl b.\ the public. lam speaking without the book, but if no notice is taken of this appeal to the public it will proba.bly be necessary for some action to be taken."