SOLDIERS AND DRINK.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1916, Page 4

SOLDIERS AND DRINK.

A SOBER CROWD OF MEN. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Apiil 12. "Statistics that have been placed before me convince mo that there is less drunkenness among the soldiers than among the ordinary civilians, in spite of tho special temptations that are placed in the way of the soldiers," said the Minister for Defence (Hon. J. Allen). "Since the inauguration of the camps only three men have been dismissed from the forces for drunkenness. I have had a return prepared showing the charges of drunkenness heard by the military authorities during the months of December, January and February last. There were 143 cases in Featherston camp out ot some "000 men, and S4 eases at Trentham out of some 4500 men. Then there were 3S eases at Narlow Neck camp, making a total of 205 coses in the three months among some I*,ooo men, most of them young. Ten. men at Trenthum and six men at Narrow neck were charged with the offence on more than one occasion.

"I find that during the same period 033 males and 02 fenules were convicted of drunkenness in Wellington city, in addition to 100 soldiers. Previous" convictions lind been, recorded against 08 of itlie male civilians, 27 of the females and 8 of the soldiers.

"The only conclusion I can draw from these figures is that the amount of drunkenness among the soldiers is less than among the oivilians. There are about 80,000 people in Wellington, and the number of males of military age amosig them is probably roughly the same as the number of soldiers in the camps. If a comparison is made on that basis the figures sipeak for themselves." ,