SOLDIERS AND DRINK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 81, 5 April 1919, Page 5

SOLDIERS AND DRINK

tfOOD FOR THOUGHT,

In proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Captain Hawkins at .the Theatre Koyal last evening, Mr Witty said the speaker had given the public “food for thought." To no portion of the address could this be better applied than to Captain Hawkins’s remarks concerning returned soldiers and liquor. He spoke as one who has been, and seen, and knows. To shrink one hair’s breadth from (this question for personal interests is cowardice and utterly unworthy of the sacrifices that have been made by the men themselves and by those who have endured the agony of suspense for months and years. Captain. Hawkins said the people of the country will never know what they owe to the men who went over to France and . Gallipoli. No matter, how clever a man. might be with brush or pen, he could never make them understand “how these men suffered for your loved onOs and mine.” When all the men came back there would be hundreds; yes, and thousands, who would never get their balance if the liquor traffic continued. Not one of these should perish. All of them were too good to be made fodder for the liquor traffic. If they saw a man who was shaken ana broken as a result of the trials he., had borne, and the liquor traffic had got hold of him, ‘%r God’s sake don’t blaipa the tnan, blame the traffic.” Those,, who voted Continuance would be directly responsible for the results, *