WET CANTEENS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23487, 26 October 1939, Page 14

WET CANTEENS

Sir, —During the Boer War when Mafeking, Kimberley and Ladysmith were besieged, it became necessary to send reiief forces by forced marches. It was not the tall man or tho short one who fell out, but the drinker, lhey could not stand the strain.' Ask any who were there. Dad. Sir,—l should like to support "Army of Occupation" in his protest against wet canteens. His argument is that alcohol lowers efficiency. That statement is true. As a. matter of fact, alcohol is more destructive than war. Tins is not a fairy tale, but sober truth. Life insurance statistics reveal the fact that tiie total abstainer has an expectation of 12 vcavs longer life than has tho moderate drinker, and of 24 years beyond those of the immoderate one. The millions of those throughout the world who drink alcohol are many more than of those who are total abstainers; so that a vast number of men and women all over the globe do not live the full term of natural life. Alcohol, the racial poison, mows them down in far greater numbers than do all the guns of all the wars. This being an indisputable fart, why should the military authorities contribute, bv establishing wet canteens, to the number of those doomed to a shortened life? It is true that without wet canteens our bovs could get drink elsewhere; hut surely tho policy of the High Command should be; "Alcohol is bad. do not touch it." rather than "Alcohol is good, go and drink it." \ P. S. Smalt-field.