WET CANTEENS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20067, 13 October 1939, Page 7

WET CANTEENS

FAVOURED BY CHURCH "PUBLICAN AN ASSET" (Per Pross Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. By an overwhelming majority, the Anglican Synod of Otago and Southland approved of the establishments of wet canteens in military camps. Archdeacon Whitehead said that a good publican was as great an asset .n the community as a good priest, a good doctor or a good lawyer. Also, a well-run hotel was as essential to communal life as a church. Whatever people thought about wet canteens, they were not, as was suggested by some factions, house* of illfame. NO CABINET DECISION No decision has been reached yet by the Government whether it will permit the establishment of wet canteens at military camps in various parts of New Zealand. A statement to this effect was made by the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser. Canteens at the various camps are at present dry. There appears’to be a sharp division of public opinion as to whether or not there should be any alteration. Tovard the end of the session the mater was raised more than once in the House of Representatives, and Mr. J. largest (National —Awarua) urged .he Minister of Defence, the Hon F. Jones, to consider the change, supporting the wet canteen proposal.