VOLUNTEERS & DRINK

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8853, 2 October 1914, Page 7

VOLUNTEERS & DRINK

MORE STRINGENCY URGED MEN MUST HAVE SOME LIBERTY. On the motion for adjournment of tho Legislative Council last night, the Hon. G. Jones (Otago) asked “whether the Government will take steps to more stringently control the sale of alcoholic liquors to members of the expeditionary force in all localities where they are temporarily stationed in order that drinking to excess by certain of them may be discountenanced, or, if possible, prevented.” The public must have noticed with sorrow that a certain number of men in the force had been taking more than was good for them, and had shown the effects in tho streets. Whilst ho brought the subject forward with regret, he wished to add that, on the whole, the conduct of tho men composing tho force had been most admirable. (Hear, hear.) The Hon. H. D. Bell, in reply, said: “ The matter to which the hon. gentleman has referred has been tho subject of anxious consideration by the Government. He must remember that these men on tho transport ships are under the control of the military authorities, and it is extremely difficult to refuse the leave that is asked by the young fellows. They have their friends here, and if the leave is granted it n ust be remembered that the control has ceased. The difficulties of measuring the danger on the one hand, and refusing leave to the men to visit their friends on the other—of the danger to the men of having tho time of leave at their disposal, must bo obvious. But the subject has received, and .is receiving, the consideration ■of the military authorities, under whose charge the men are, as well as tho Government. I want, however, to emphasise the fact that we have' no right to interfere with the control of the men. And now they are on board th© transports. I don’t want to be led into a controversy, but it has been too little recognised that discipline is essential, that the discipline now is the discipline of the military authorities, and not of the civil authorities. Far too much is being heard of grievances which ought to be represented to the military authorities, and which are represented by the press as being the fault of the Government. Of course the Government can call the attention of the military authorities to any question of the kind, though they cannot control tho authorities m discipline. It would have been possible that the ships should have lain during their present detention at a port other than the port of a large city.. That might have been possible; for many reasons that was not considered desirable. If they lie here the men naturally ask for leave and the leave is difficult, to refuse. I hope hen. gentlemen will recognise that^ —that the public will recognise that. At the same Time the military authorities _do recognise tho duty of so controlling the leave that no undue opportunities shall he afforded for license. .We cannot prevent men enjoying their liberty when they have the leave, nor_ can we control thorn during that time. Hon. gentlemen will see hat it was really a question of granting leave, and an extremely difficult _ question. What can be done is, I believe, being done, and largely at the instance of and: by . I am happy fo say, the men themselves.” . . .