Wet Canteens In Camps

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 3, 28 September 1939, Page 11

Wet Canteens In Camps

Sir,—l hope that a strong body of, public opinion will develop in support; of the Returned Soldiers’ Association ; proposal that wet canteens—conducted i by the R.S.A. for patriotic-fund purposes—'be established in the military, camps. This is an eminently sensible suggestion, and one deserving the support of prohibitionists. The moral and practical advantages of such a system, as compared with the arrangement 25 years ago are surely obvious. It would be a thousand pities if the R.S.A. advice —the best possible on such a question —and the offer involved, were to be ignored because of the Government’s fear of the prohibition vote. It would be another thousand pities if prohibitionists themselves construed the suggestion as a blow at their cause. As I_see.it, it 13 nothing of the sort. It is simply a commonsense move —a means of enabling the soldier to enjoy his refreshments under the most suitable conditions and (incidentally) under official supervision; and of gaining for patriotic purposes a great deal of money which would otherwise go into the tills of a few hotelkeepers.—l am, etc., MODERATE. Wellington, September 26.