LEAVE LIQUOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23601, 9 March 1940, Page 12

LEAVE LIQUOR

THE NEW REGULATIONS SOLDIERS RESENTFUL A MILD DEMONSTRATION The regulations under which members of the defence forces will be forbidden to have alcoholic liquor in their possession while on leave or when travelling were the chief topic of conversation among the troops on leave in the city last night. Inquiries pursued in various quarters indicated that the "ranks" of all arms of the service wore indignant at the issue of regulations under which the majority have restriction of ordinary rights imposed upon fliem because of the failings of the few. On the other hand a number of officers who were consulted expressed approval of the regulations, although none was inclined to pursue the subject when the fact was impressed upon them that they would also offend if, perchance, they took a bottle of liquor to a social gathering. One military man, an old Digger, now serving on Home Defence, said the regulations would be more honoured in the breach than in the observance. "They are necessary," he said, "to give the power required to deal with the extreme case." He, also, did not pursue the subject when it was suggested that if a law Here not properly administered it would fall into disrepute. Resentment against the regulations, it is understood, took the form of a minor demonstration at Papakura Camp yesterday morning. In the interval before breakfast and first parade, it is stated, a body of men gathered on a convenient para/le ground to protest against the regulations. The burden of a brief speech by one man was "So beer, no parade." Beer, of course, was available at the canteen at the ordinary times, but reference in this ease was to riphts when troops are on leave. However, the demonstration, which was little more than an emotional bubble, ended immediately when an officer ordered the men to return to their lines.