"ABOLISH THE CANTEEN."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14237, 7 December 1909, Page 7

"ABOLISH THE CANTEEN."

THE MILITARY CAMPS. .WOULD SOONER GO TO GAOL. £bt telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] Hamilton, Monday. Preaching at the Wesleyan Church yesterday, the Rev. Mr. Blamires referred to no provision being made in the Defence Bid for the abolition of the canteen. He would go to gaol before he' would allow his son to go into a camp where thero was a canteen. The following resolution was carried :— This congregation cannot consent to any compulsory training which does not involve the abolition of the canteen from military camps." A copy is being sent to the Prime Minister and the member for the district. Similar resolutions were passed in the Baptist Church in the evening, besides the following : —"That this meeting, while rejoicing in the steady progress being made in the Dominion in the direction of the removal of public temptation to drinking, feels convinced that while we are waiting for the removal of the open bar, the social customs of the day are adding seriously to the number of young men who are forming the drink habit. We deplore the fact that in Hamilton, large numbers of young men frequent the hotels, and we urge all temperance workers and well-wishers to discourage tho shouting system, and induce the young men of the district to become pledged abstainers."

FEILDING WESLEYANS' PROTEST. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION".] Ff.ildi.vq, Monday. A very large congregation assembled in the Wesleyan Church yesterday, when the question of canteens at military camps was discussed, and the following telegram sent to the Prime Minister:— "Deeply concerned at the Government proposal to continue facilities for obtaining intoxicants at military camps. Considering the grave moral danger to which the liquor canteen system exposes the youth of the Dominion, tho Feilding Wesleyan congregation earnestly and emphatically urges its abolition."

CONDEMNED IN CHRISTCHURCH. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchttrch, Monday. In all tRc non-Episcopal churches in the city and suburbs, also at the Young Men's Christian Association, resolutions were passed condemning and protesting against the establishment of canteens at military training camps, as proposed in the Defence Bill. The resolutions were passed unanimously by 1 large congregations.

WELLINGTON PROTESTS [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] Wellington-, Monday. The congregations of a number of local churches passed resolutions yesterday protesting against canteens being provided for by the Defence Bill.

"A DEMORALISING INFLUENCE:" [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Ashburton, Monday. Yesterday all the Nonconformist churches passed resolutions protesting against tho provision for canteens being included in the Defence Bill. Several young men's Bible classes also passed similar resolutions, considering that canteens are calculated to exercise a demoralising influence on young men who may Be compelled to attend camps.

A VIGOROUS PROTEST. [by TELEGRAPH.—MESS association.] DrN'EDiN, Monday. At a meeting of the Temperance and Morals Committee of the Methodist Church of New Zealand to-day, it was decided to enter a vigorous protest against the provision for canteens in the Defence Bill.