SOBER TERRITORIALS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 142, 14 June 1912, Page 7

SOBER TERRITORIALS.

THE CHMSTCHTTRCH TSQUtBX. .MEN'S BEHAVIOUR ESEMiELAEY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The finding of the Board of Inquiryset up to inquire in bo the allegations made iby the Prohibition League of ChristchuTch of drunkenness and irregularities in connection with the territorial camps in the Canterbury district, has 'been received by the Minister for Defence from Major-General Godley. The General states that no evidence was found that any drink was brought into the camp, but at Templeton a great deal of evidence was produced to show that the men were sober and wellbehaved. The beer bottles that Were found lying in and around the camp were proved to have contained nothing more harmful than soft drinks provided by the canteen contractor; and the whisky wrapper alleged to have been found in the camp was found by a member of the Prohibition League a fortnight after the camp had been struck. He was therefore of opinion that though there were proved to have been six case 3 of men who. were under the influence of liquor during the period of training in camp of the two regiments, it could not be said that the behaviour and bearing of these Territorials were other than exemplary. He considered the general allegations against the camps by the Prohibition League to be exaggerated, and that the implied, condemnation of a large number of men of unimpeachable character for the misconduct of a very few was not justified. At the sajne time, he wished to make it clear that he was in entire sympathy with the efforts of the league to ensure that camps should be free of any irregularities, and that parents may have confidence that their sons 'Will not be subjected to temptation; and he was glad to assist it in every way in his power. It was with this in view that the present inquiry was instituted. '"'Finally, it is my intention in the future," he added, "'to make every effort to have camps established out of the reach of licensed premises." -,