RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1702, 16 December 1919, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

AN IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION

The following open letter is addressed to nil returned soldiers by the executive of the New Zealand Moderate League : Wellington, ~ December 10th, 1919. Gentlemen,—-

In view of the attempts being made by the Prohibition Party to discount the clear expression of opinion that you gave against prohibition at the April referendum, and the statements made by them that the soldiers' votes were cast, against prohibition because of allocked misrepresentations made by this League in the letter which we had the honour of addressing to those of you who were overseas at the time, the executive of the" League wishes firstly to record its opinion that the soldiers' vote was the result of the studied judgment of the men themselves and was uninfluenced by any partisan propaganda.

The letter sent by the Moderate League to the soldiers prior to the referendum was a plain statement of facts, and the contents thereof still stand uncontroverted. Any returned soldier can check for himself the allegations made by the Moderate League against the prohibitionists as follows: (1.) That the Prohibitionists took advantage of the absence of the large body of men on active service to attempt to secure a catch vote.

Proof: See resolution of New Zealand Alliance iu "Dominion" newspaper of April 10, 1918, iu which an immediate poll waf demanded ,and no mention whatever was made about the soldiers' right to vote. (Note also that at the same meeting the Alliance passed a resolution urging the Government to "stop the sale ot liquor at all ports of landing and at all places where troop trains stop with returnee] soldiers.)

The Moderate League immediately met and objected to any vote being taken while the soldiers were away—(See Wellington papers, April 11th. 1S18.) It was after this that the Prohibition Party, seeing the game was up, admitted the right of the soldier to vote oa the referendum. In its original demand for an immediate poll to take place during 1918 the Prohibition Party made no reference whatever to the soldiors' vote.

If further proof is required of the League's statement that the Prohibitionists were pressing for a vote before the soldiers came back it is" only necessary to turn to the report of the Rev. It -S. Gray's speech, iir the Wellington Town gallon August 9th, 1918, when he said"!'Let,us have this menace out of the. road'and the path cleared before the boys come nome." Also speeches ol Mr Li M. Isitt,-M.P., in Auckland on July 29th, 1918, and of Mrs Don, in Dunedin, on. July 31st, 1918. •

(2.) That,the Prohibitionists endeavoured to besmirch the good name of the soldiers, and brand them before: the world as. drunkards in order to secure some immediate advantage for their propaganda.

Proof: See report of meeting W.C.T.U., March 23rd, 1915, resolution demanding prohibition of all soldiers in uni- : form. Methodist Conference ; resolution, February 24th, 1915. asking for prohibition of all soldiers in uniform. Similar resolution of Dunedin Presbvtery, May sth, 1915. Prohibition deputation to Minister of Education, May 25th, 1915.

The following is a typical illustration of the opinions expressed by the Prohibitionists. Extract from speech of Rev. Scorgie at Dunedin Presbytery (vide Otago Daily Times, May sth, 1915):

"It should be made absolutely impossible for soldiers to obtain drink. The present position in Wellington and other places was a grave disgrace and a scandal to the community. Young men's names were being placed on rolls of honour all over the country, and the next thing they heard was that these men were seen drunk. The rolls of honour WOULD SOON BE ROLLS OF if that sort of thing went on. The Government should make it impossible for men in, camps to obtain liquor, and," concluded Mr Scorgie, "ANYONE POUND TAKING IT IN SHOULD BE STRIPPED AND FLOGGED."

It was because of such records as this in the public press of New Zealand that the Moderate League felt it a duty to acquaint the absent soldiers not only with? the altered law, but with the manner in which the Prohibitionists had vilified them for propaganda purposes. Not satisfied with securing "dry" camp? and itroopships from their friend the Minister, of Defence, the Prohibitionists even demanded that the hospital ships should be "dry," as witness resolutions in the press of June 11th, 1910, and subsequent Ministerial statements. ,To adH further to the mass of unwarranted abuse and slanderous sensations 'both direct and implied levelled against- ftie soldiers by the Prohibitionists, the W.O.T.U. Convention in ChnstEvening Post. March 23rd, 1915) urged the Minister of Defence to take immediate steps to appoint women patrols to work in the neighbourhood of the camps of Expeditionary Forces for safeguarding young people and the prevention of disorderly conduct.

Returned soldiers may for themselves turn up the records in Hansard of the speeches of Prohibition M.P.'s in Parliament when the early closing question was before the House. They will find there unbounded statements about the frightful condition of drunkenness in which the soldiers were taken back to camp each night from Lambton Station. Fortunately a committee of members with moderate views made special investigations and were able to publicly refute in Parliament the slanders that were levelled against the men. All sen. sible people realised, as you did yourselves, that a few men got "over the odds," but the object of the Prohibitionists was to brand the whole of the men in the hope of securing an advantage for their propaganda. During the five years of war the Moderate League has done its best to preserve the liberty of the subject and at the same time endeavour to have the liquor laws amended along sensible lines to bring about a better service and remove' all reproaches. The League holds that under State Purchase and Contra great improvements can be made without trespassing in any way on personal liberty and free choice in this matter. The League has every confidence that with the larger experience gained by the soldiers in their service overseas the issue at the forthcoming poll may be safely trusted to their good judgment as before; but would, in conclusion, again point out that if Prohibition is onjce carried the law provides that it shall be for nil iime and that no further } vote will be taken on the liquor ques-

tion in New Zealand. The League would also point out that to vote againßt Prohibition electors must strike out two lines in the ballot paper. Yours faithfully, D. M. FINDLAY, President. R. A. ARMSTRONG, Dominion Secretary. (Published by Arrangement.).