SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 52, 1 March 1916, Page 8

SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR.

EFFECT ON TROOPS.': "' MODERATE LEAGUE'S (QUERIES.: • (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) - An' important stage-in-the.mbvemenf for the early closing of' r hotel.and :clul bars "was reached to-day, :: -when^ v atjr meeting of the central executive .of tSf Moderate League,-it was decided that« letter-be forwarded -to the Minister- for Defence asking for definite, official 'information as to the part indulgence Jb alcoholic refreshment- has .played"-^Vfitt. ; the Expeditionary Forces. The.letter states, that-the executive-considers:tiiat the military authorities'-are-the,, only. " competent, judges- as to Tegtilatipiu should; govern- soldiers in-,carap;and:;on leave, and contends that ■no ...pressure should be brought to'bear on.the GOV7 "■'-' ernment to carry out t^e."particular . views of -sections-of the ciyilian.'pppuia-- . tion, unless there is obvious neglect of official duty.- Replies* are'askedifor on the following definite points :Has there been any material inefficiency of ' the Expeditionary Force and reinforcements now.at the'frontidue to.arunfceiness? (2) Is .drunkenness a material feature of the-daily conduct til the, camps in the Dominion? (3) Hijw/nriny , men r : ; forces'"fpr*^drunkenness?/ ~/(f) Has drunkenness.'been responsible.;'for re- "v. tardirig the training of men? (5) Have soldiers' done' anything '-'to tfieir : owri~ : detriment or /to the ''.detriment of the:;:; civil life of the : Dominion through in dulgence-" in-alcohol when in-camp oron leave.that "would justify serious alteration of the civil laws? "aSsS