"TREATING" OF SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16123, 11 January 1916, Page 9

"TREATING" OF SOLDIERS.

. APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.

"WARNING AS TO LAW.

[Br telegraph rBiSS ASSOCIATION-.]

Wellington', Monday. A.v appeal to the public to refrain from "treating" soldiers, out of mistaken kindness, and some words to the men themselves, were made by the Defence Minister to-day. Mr. Allen's remarks applied to returned sick and wounded soldiers, men in course of training at. < amps, and those about to undergo training. The authorities had made, no great alterations in regard to licenses, said the Minister, except to stop the supply of bottles of liquor to soldiers in uniform, and to prevent anyone taking liquor to them, but ho understood—although he had no definite information on the matter—that there was at the present time no proper observance of these regulation?.

" I want to be perfectly understood," he added, "when I say that if any breach of these instructions is discovered those responsible will be dealt with severely, and I ask those who are licensees of hotels to carry tho instructions out in tho letter and in the spirit. as I do not want to use tho power I have. I would rather trust to the honour of 'the people themselves, but there will be no hesitation about it once, any offence is discovered. 1 give them fair warning. I also again warn people that there is a regulation in exists ence that no liquor is to be taken on troop trains either by soldiers or civilians, but m regard to ordinary trains on which soldiers travel and in the country where soldiers may happen to be I make this appeal to the public—that they should not on any occasion 'treat' soldiers- The men, as far as I know, do not want it. They would rather retain their self-respect and obtain what they want themselves than bo 'treated' by the public. I am speaking without the book, but if no notico is taken of this appeal to the public it will probably bo necessary for some action to ho taken."