CAMP CANTEENS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 692, 17 December 1909, Page 3

CAMP CANTEENS.

RESOLUTION BY TEMPRANCE REFORM COUNCIL. , Diinedin, December 15. -Tho United Temperance Reform Council passed a resolution expressing gratification at the Government's decision in regard to canteens, and pleasure at the tenor of tho reply given by Sir Joseph Ward to the delegation re King Country licenses, and trusting that legislation quashing_ tho licenses issued will bo passed this session, and that tho proclamation made to tho Natives will ever bo respected.

DISCUSSION IN THE AUSTRALIAN ... SENATE. -, ' The amendments made by tho Australian Senate in tho Defence Bill were considered in committee in the Houso of Representatives on December 5. There were 20' altogether, but most of, them!were of a technical character.' ■ ' ■ . I ''■'■■ It was proposed dy ■ the Senate' to, amend Clause 17, which prohibited the .sale or supply of intoxicating and spirituous .liquors at any camp, fort, or port, except for purely medical purposes, "so as to only prohibit sale of liquor during the timo of training. The effect would be to leavo barrack canteens as at present. ' Mr. Jos. Cook, Minister for Defence, said this was a better provision than the original one, and. was in the interest of temperance. 1 Mr. O'Mallcy (Tasmania) said boys should be 'protected. Recently some of the cadets wero given beer, arid they drank it, not knowing it was beer. (Laughter.) -.-'.' Dr. . Maloney. (Victoria) asked that the officers should not be with liquor at a cheaper ,rato. than', "rankers." ■ Mr. Jos. ■ Cook was -not aware that that. was the case. Ho would certainly, havo tho matter attended to.■'. -.. -.''.'' : Colonel Foxton said that in Queonsla'nd once ho was in charge of a .camp, and ho decided to haTe no canteens. ! The'result was that the men", mostly..; left "-tie camps, and were found in-every hotel for four "miles around. .This occurred for,' two ; nights,! when ho decided to send ■ to'" Brisbane for. several hogsheads of beer;;- Tho men-were thori satisfied, and there was'no' more drunkonness. ''. Mr. Watson (I*cw South Wales) ' said; the peculiarity about 'temperance advocates was that.they; all declared they had never tasted it.. (Hear, hear, and laughter.)■■ Their abstention: had had dire effects upon them'. (Laughter.) It would ho much more preferable for tho Government'to prohibit the salo :of spirituous liquors, but men should bo . allowed light beers and wines. Beer should, bo so light that a man' would have to "swill" so much of it that it would bo a physical impossibility for him to get drunk. . ' ; Tho amendment was agreed to by 28 to 14. ..', The remaining amendments wero accepted by ,thc ; Government and. agreed to. '•