DRINKING ON TRAINS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1942, Page 4

DRINKING ON TRAINS

May I refer to "H-R-'s" letter an drinking on trains. I travelled to Auckland from Waiouru on January 29, and Waiouru was, as it is now; a totally dry area without even a «K canteen. He says the men occupied a non-smoker. I was content to sleep on the floor in the passageway, and well satisfied I was, but "a little liquor would have made the trip more pleasant, as we couldn't celebrate our first leave in two months till we had reached Auckland. "H.R." says the soldiers who entrained at Waiouru brought a supply of liquor with them. Also three suitcases lasted a party of airmen from Feildmg to Auckland. I wonder who carried the cases, and if they drank all the way, as he claims; I'd sooner have had his headache than theirs. The conditions for "H.R." became decidedly boisterous, but I'll bet these happy boys and their horseplay will find things more boisterous later on. Perhaps "H.R." would have felt better if they had offered him a drink. He also mentions inefficiency of fighting forces due to alcoholic indulgence, but I have concluded that even non-smoking sobersides must get illusions when they see supplies of liquor leaving sunny Waiouru. Don't worry, Mr. G. S. Reid, railways traffic manager, the correspondent's evidence calls for more inquiry than his complaint. H. R WATT.