OUT OF BOUNDS!

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1918, Page 7

OUT OF BOUNDS!

To the Editor.

Sir,—Nothing can surpass the eonsumate meanness of the moderates' proposal to declare hotel bars "out of bounds" for soldiers. This was proposed in Auckland recently, and now again in Wellington, as the result of the drunken riots on Friday last. Of course there will be riots where the drink is allowed,, and used, whether it be among civilians or soldiers. Where is the patriotism of these civilian moderates? Thev are not prepared to surrender their drinking facilities in order to protect their "protectors" who have returned from the war, from the enemy who has beaten them when the Huns could not. The report in your paper this morning shows again the utter demoralisation onused by the drink. A number of drunken soldiers caused a riot; a picket was sent out to restore order, and it too succumbed to the alcoholic enemy. Can anything show more clearly than this incident does the absolute necessity of at once proclaiming prohibition of all intoxicating drink during the war, and demobilization? If there is a spark of fellow-feeling among these moderates for the soldiers, in their temptations and excitement on landing in their own country again, they would at ones ask to join in the prohibition proposed for the soldier. But there is none, not a spark of it, and these boastful moderates are merely slaves to the liquor appetite and profits, while they talk about liberty—a liberty to buy or sell drink, which they propose denying to the soldier.—l am, etc., G.H.M. 1/7/18.