SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 163, 8 July 1918, Page 6

SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—As usual one hardly dares to venture an opinion/ on a subject without creating a storm from people whose activities (in the present instance on behalf of our soldier boys) does not ex' tend beyond "comment.'' I do not 1 rld a brief for liquor, but I do believe in toleration. I expressed the opinion that at the reunion oil the first Monday in August the returned soldiers were entitled to refreshment similarly as in past functions, where it had been under proper supervision, and' had not been abused. One would thvnik from the arguments used, against the supply of a small quantity of liquor that our "bfoys were uncontroißablte -iveaklitniirs—it is an absolute slur upon them. However, without further expres :i;>n, let mo say that the matter might- well be considered by the Returned Soldiers' Association. The men comprising it are quite competent to arrive at a decision for or "against," let them be the deciding factor. Except with their tongues there are a lot of people "who toil not, neither do they spin" for patriotic purposes. I am. etc.. H. J. HARRIS

(To the Editor.) Sir.—The above dinner I believe is to be given in honour of the returned soldiers, therefore I ask is it social, eitqnette to tell your cueists what they shall eat and drink. Mr F. (.•- G»bb-«, by moving a resoution that no intoxicating liquor be allowed at 'he d.r.neiy thereby '-asts a most serious reflection on the very men.-the citizens of Nelson wish to honour." Clan anyone point to anv previous dinner where the returned* soldiers of Nelson have not conducted themselves in a proper maimer. I would like--to- remind all' those who supported that resolution' that the returned soldiers 1 are not- now in leading strings, that they have reached 1 man s estate, and are quite capable of saying ves or no to the offer of _a glass of beer. I, as a returned soldier, wish to ent-ej- a most emphatic protest to the insinuation that we are not capable of looking after ourselves 1 - —I am. etc., A RETURNED SOLDIERNelson, July 6, 1918. To the Editor. Sir, In my opinion the continuance of the correspondence on the above subject will not be productive of any good results. Talking a broad 1 view of the question, and with the experience of luncheons given in Nelson to re-t-urnde men. I think it was unto tha.t a resolution of the iMid .-hou'3 have been submitted, for I cannot help feeling that it may be regarded as a reflection, and cause resentment- by some of the men. It would be veiy much.. regretted if such should be the effect. I am also aware that it i s usually futile to cross swords- with an editor of a newspaper, who lias the dastin-t advantage of prac'.n t'ly ury limited space, and. can bombard bis adversary in a double-barreMed fashioij can launch a "tank" attack in: editorial columns, and' if he so desires turn on the "machine-gun" by way of foot-notes, but still I cannot resist writing a few lines; in regard to the criticism embodied iw your foot-note. Y"our tone appeared a 1 'bit. heated), and vour strictures in this in-=ti:ii*e <li l not seem characteristic of a calm, broadminded man. I am also encouraged to sav a few words owing to the fact; that vou mibli:-hed my letter without, any deletions whatever. I thank you for this. Now. Sir, you have a. P e t^? c right to describe my letter as> Am-p-ant," for I mentioned previouslv there Were two sides to -practical h every question—and that's your opinion but I failed to see where the flippan-cy-came in. You Vso aas r*. "completely failed to deal with the points at issue." If the point, at issue was as vou contend, . the 'supplying neurasthenic soldiers with liquor," then of course there would only be one side to the question. but- I differ with you and say it was not solely a question oi supplying "neurasthenic soldiers,' but it was a prohibitory mandate against all and sundry . No one has told us n we have any neurasthenic cases here, there may be some of these unfortunate men—but a passimr a resolution roca.rding even a case li'ke this wou d ; be of small moment, for if he desired a srlass of bqer and it was refused at the hmcheon. he could hotel and probably get, bslt a "dozen glasses'. - At il"-e pte vious luncheons our returned men conducted themselves in a- most exemp.ary manner. In conclusion, I want to make it perfectly clear that I did not advocate liquor for a neurasthenic or soldier at the meeting, but rather thanhave a prohibitory resulntion passed I ceHainlv advocated wba-t appeared m my. judgment to be the course, —iiz.. to oppose such a res-" 1 Mjio-n ■ >--1 leave the matter for the soldiers themves to decide. —-I am, c ! ~ I W. LOCK.

(There is, we feei, nc" ncd renounce oort-ions of former articles to show how the correspondents have misrepresented the position. The time for Plausible platitudes on the liquor question and some returned soldiers, has trone by. The need exists for drastic •rctvMT to help some men- whose general hodp'lv health and stamina have been weakened bv the injuries -they have sustained in the service of their country. The side-issue of imaginary reflections on returned soldiers generiPv pale into insignificance beside the grave• issue of assisting men whose whole future is imperilled bv liauor. We «cpr<tuce. in full the main portion) of the footnote Mr Lock pretends to be answering, for it .will be clearly seen that in ■the more serious part of hisi letter he touches only on- tli6 . first- .point -raiisedj and has the effrontery to state that we contended this was the point at issue. What we said was th;s: - "There is absolutely only one side to thb question of supplying neurasthenic soldiers with liquor. As the Minister of Defence says, 'these .imaginary kind- . Tvc>sses are after a'.l .the greatest cvue'ties . that can be offered these mon,' and as returned soldiers pointed out at the general conferences there are nerve cases, that even after their discharge, protection from liquo'r In the light. Kf "these facts, how could citizens of kelson set such a. sorry example as supplying liquor to a gathering returned soldiers which might be attended 1 by not a few to whom liquor wotiid • be distinctly harmful? What wouM be t-.he use of the man who vites wounded soldiers to driilk. if the citizens of Nelson put liquor before them at an official function ?" Returned '-oldners generally, have realised the liquor menace to certain of their fellows. and have not failed to extend ?< helping hand. As tpointed out the other day. the New Zealand Conference of Returned Soldiers' Associations even went so far as ttfo recommend to 'the Defence that it should' for mulate a a-heme and procedure wherebv returned soldiers, oven if discharg- ' ed. who could be proved' to be becoming addicted 'to liquor, could! be suitably placed under *• control and. discipline, n.nd given a chance to find their feet.)

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