reliable observer. CONDUCT OF TROOPS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 16 February 1942, Page 4

reliable observer. CONDUCT OF TROOPS

BEHAVIOUR IN WELLINGTON STREETS MAYOR BLAMES SLY GROG AND DOPED LIQUOR “Since my letter. I have been informed that the matter has been causing some anxiety to the authorities who are and have been doing their best, to i cope with the position.*’ said the Mayor of Wellington. Mr Hislop, last night, j in reply to a question as to what action had been taken by the police and mili- | tary authortiies following his recent 1 complaint about disorderly conduct by members of the forces and some civil-: ians in the streets of Wellington. The matter had received the earnest, consideration of the Government and lhe Prime Minister had written to him on 12th February that Cabinet had already agreed to the introduction of regulations, giving the police special powers of search without a warrant, as had been done in the last war. “I should like to make it clear." said the Mayor, “that the complaints made by citizens refer to a small proportion* of the troops. Times arc not normal and we cannot expect peacetime conditions to prevail. Reasonable latitude is due to men. many of whom have been weeks and sometimes , months at sea in the service of our j cause, and many others for long j periods in the training camps, but | gross misconduct in our streets by the . few must be checked. SLY-GROG SELLING •The main cause of the trouble has been the growth of sly-grog selling, not in the hotels but by various people out i to make money out of the troops by . selling them adulterated liquor, in ; many cases doped with methylated I spirits. There is evidence of this and j the police are on the track of the j offenders. The added power given them ; will greatly strengthen their hands. "The legitimate trade itself has. shown its sense of duty in the mat j ter." added the Mayor, “and I am per- j sonallv aware that through its own, organisation it has done and is doing its’best to meet a difficult situation. Personally. 1 think that with lhe elim-j inalion ot the sly-grog seller, the mam . cause of the trouble will be removed. ;