Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1918. SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 160, 4 July 1918, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1918. SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR.

IN -view of the facts, it is astounding that any man should consider for on-r moment the .supplying of liqucr at a luncheon tendered by citizens to re turned soldiers. This- is not a question of prohibition versus liquor, nor does it involve the-., chararter of returned soldiers .generally.win'-.-hi* of the highest. It is a, question of citizens' dnty to ■certain returned soldiers, not so much for what might happen at 'the gathering, but as an example. We are eure that Messrs H. J. Harris and W. Lock spoke on Wednesday evening without giving the matter consideration, for . both failed to realise the real issue, as 'explained by Mr O. Gibbs, that it is the condition of some men that renders liquor so harmful to them. Speaking of "treating"* neurasthenic soldiers,' the Minister of Defence the other day pointed out that these % "im aginary kindnesses are after all the greatest" cruelties that can be offered to these men." He said he wanted to raise the strongest possible protest against the custom of offering drink to these mew—'neurasthenic', with their nerves all gone to pieces—and he ar-ked everyone = in Dunedin to assist in the, endeavour to keep, drink away from them until, at any rate, they were restored to -perfect health and strength.In the." licht of this statement-. how could the citizens of Ne"?on set such a sorry example as supplying liquor to a gathering of returned sol-di-err which might be attended by no* a few to whom liquor would be distinctly harmful. We do not, of course suggest- that Messrs Hams and would supply liquor to neurasthenia soldiers, but" how could they guarantethere would be no s~u':h cases at tV gathering? The liquor menace _t( the neurasthenic soldier is so serionthat the plausible platitude expressed by Mr Lock cannot be tolerated—"if a soldier wanted a glass of ale with his lunch, he should have it." Fortunately, but still not to the credit of the majority of the meeting, the questaoii of 'liquor at the function was- referred to the Returned Soldiers' Association for an opinion, which will doubtless be acted upon, and' we have not the slightest doubt that the Association wall turn the liquor down as being quite imnecessary at su,"h a gathering. The Returned .Soldiers realise the menace of drink to certain of -their fellows, particularly many of those who are suffering from shell shock, and it- mav interest readers, to observe something of what was said at the recent Conference of the Returned Soldiers' Associations of New Zealand held at Auckland in May last The Medical Committee of the Association reported that it "viewed with grave regret the Ta.va.ges that alcoholism was making amongst returned particularly -in-"the, case of shell-shock and: neurasthenic cases." It was stated at the Conference that alcoholism was not increasing among returned soldier* 'but 'among those suffering from nerve trouble?., and.the clause was deleted to this.. effect. . Another recom mendation of . the Medical '.Committee was that it should be suggested to. the Defence 'Department that it should formulate a scheme and procedure wherebv returned soldiers, even U discharged, who could be proved to be; becoming addicted to (liquor, could be| suitably 0 placed under Control and discipline and given a chance to tinci their feet and re-rain their lost "wil - power A little consideration wiU show that this is a proposal.of a very. fa.p-renc\liing nature,' affeyitinp .th* liberty of certain indavidua.s. Naturally a lively discussion ensued. Opponents o"f the proposal declared that when a man became a civilian he came ; under the civil code, and if he drank to excess the -machinery of the law *n> the shape of a prohibition order, could', be issued Against him. They contended that there must be a limit to nnVitary control, and to exercise it after a man was discharged would' go too tar. Other 'delegates im supporting the proposal artrued- that in many rases a man's - drinking habits were due. to weaknesses occasioned bv servrce, which might last for years. Such men, it was further stated, were in a different category from the civilian, and should not, 'be dealt with m the mme way. "The experience of the sokrier has been unique'." sand Mr J. D. Harper (Wellington), "and he is not quite a, civilian. It is our duty to- protect the status and character of oxir comrades, and if we do not make an effort to help the weaker mem we will be failing in our duty. The President; i(Dr Boxer) said that those who wentinto the by-paths of life knew that returned soldiers sometimes allowed the

fact of their service to become .aa; exciise for drinking, and speaking as as comrade and not as a medical man,

he urged' the conference to support the proposal. This far-reaching recommendation was adopted by 26 votes to 13, We trust we shall never see again the sorry spectacle of a meeting of citizenG failing to grapple with such a vital question. It is> the example that matters much in the present instance,

What would be .the use of condemning the mail who invites wounded soldiers to drink i'f the citizens of Nelson put liquor before them at an official function? The returned soldiers are i anixi'ous to help those of their fellows j who, through certain injuries sustained! as a rebuilt of the ines>i.imable service |. they have rendered their country, fall j an easy prey to liquor and how mu-h j more anxious should those who _ have j not borne the .trials of active service be. j to "give these men," in the words of J returned soldiers themselves, "a chance j to find their feet, and regain, their, lost | ' i,l power." j I