SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16169, 4 March 1916, Page 9

SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR.

ALLIANCE RESOLUTIONS. RESTRICTIONS ADVOCATED. [by TELEGRAPH.—TRESS ASSOCIATION.! Wrlltngton, Friday. At a special mooting of the executive of the New Zealand Alliance, tho following resolutions wcro adopted :—" That the New Zealand Alliance stands definitely and unflinchingly opposed to tho establishment of ' wet' canteens in military camps as opposed to military discipline and efficiency; that, in the best interests of our soldiers in training, and of those who have returned from the front, the alliance earnestly appeals to the Government to follow the example of the military authorities at Homo by severely restricting the hours of tho salo of liquor, and by making all forms of 'shouting' illegal, and, in the meantime, begs.all true friends of the soldiers and of the Empire to discourage 'shouting ' in every possible way; that, whereas the war has reached a stago at which tho call for national and individual economy and self-denial, and for military and industrial efficiency, has become clearer and stronger than ever, this executive regrets that the Defence authorities should be embarrassed by demands for relaxing the present restrictions on the worst enemy of all these causes, and considers that the thanks of'tlio community are duo to the Minister for Defence for the firm stand ho bus taken in opposition to these demands, and that he should be supported by all good citizens in maintaining and extending the present 1 safeguards', both inside and outside the i camps." camps. "WET" CANTEENS ADVOCATED. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' VIEWS. [Ny TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT ] QnnisTctnjßcn, Friday. The following resolution was adopted at a meeting of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers' Association to-day :—"That this association, having carefully considered the question of supplying alcoholic liquor to soldiers, is confidently of opinion that the present agitation for six o'clock closing is not warranted. The convictions for drunkenness in this city are abnormally low and prove conclusively that there is "very little insobriety among our soldiers. The association is further of i opinion that the bringing into force of such restrictive measures as those proposed i is merely an attempt to treat our soldiers' like children, and will simply have an effect of injuring the Recruiting -Associa-1 tion. It calls upon the Government to j forthwith establish a 'wet' canteen in all; military camps, such canteens to be under military supervisors, and thus give to j our soldiers the same privileges as are enjoyed by the rest of the community. In 'recommending the establishment of 'wet', canteens this association is acting'against its own interests, but our members are quite content to suffer any loss involved, provided our soldiers aro given the opportunity to obtain reasonable refreshments should they so desire."