SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1943, Page 6

SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR

A REGULATION DEFENDED BY PRIME MINISTER. “PROVED TO BE GOOD.” (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “Regulations can become despotic,” declared Mr Schramm in the House of Representatives yesterday, in contending that the recent licensing regulations which debarred a serviceman from carrying liquor from an hotel were an unfair discrimination against the soldier. “The conscientious objector who will not fight for his country and the civilian have those privileges.” The Prime Minister: “That regulation is all right. The Army and Air Force authorities and everyone that has any respect for the soldier wanted it. It has proved to be good for the sobriety of the men. Whether the regulations are tyrannical or not they are good ones.” Mr Schramm: “Anyone but the soldier can get liquor to carry away from an hotel.” The Prime Minister: “The position before the regulations were brought in was disgraceful. We received complaints from people travelling in trains about the drinking and conditions.” Mr Schramm: “There are regulations which bar anyone from taking liquor into a train. Why not enforce the regulations and make all the same?” An opposition member: “The trains even provide the bottle openers.” The conditions in troop trains did not come into the position, said Mr Schramm in reply to a further interjection by the Prime Minister. The soldier resented the regulations and the discrimination.