SOLDIERS AND DRINK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3138, 17 July 1917, Page 7

SOLDIERS AND DRINK

•Sir,-Might; I ty, allowed a littlo spaco in the paper for this, lotber? There is so much talk going on about soldiers and drink and closing hotels' at 6 o'clock that I think, like all broadminded people, I am sure in New Zealand /that if the Minister of Defenco had "Tho welfare of our soldiers liriily and sincerely at heart ho would allow wet canteens, and see that good stuff were sold to (he men Then no doubt those good women and church-goers would be hurt by seeing so many soldiers in town who soon are going to fight for them so that they may sit in at home. . After all, our soldiers are men—not a. new kind of animal created since the war—and (hey .should be treated as men. New Zealand elill can copy from dear old England. While writing, there is another thing that is going-mostl.v stirred up by women—that is, should the soldiers havo alcohol in hospitals? Most certainly, if the doctor ■ order it. and most certainly during convalesence. After.tliosu men leave hospital they are often so run-down from their treatment that they need ,it. and all the nourishing food that is oossiblo to be given them not lea and sweet cakes, but at certain times stimulants. Ask experienced nurses. . They are the ones to know nothing is too good for those pood fellows, that have often been 21 hours in trenches, kree-deep in water, tirhtiiig for these fanatics that, would take every possible thing from them instead of putting forward even- effort to help theni back to health and strength. Most of them need stimnla.nt. and should have it given them in hospitals (rum and milkl. T shou'd certainly like lo put Mine, in fact all, of those women and men that arc growling, about, our soldiers at somethiiuT (n do for 24 hours without a brealt.—f am, etc.. . ENGLISHWOSU"