WET CANTEENS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23930, 4 October 1939, Page 9

WET CANTEENS

ANGLICAN CHURCH APPROVAL BISHOP CHERRINGTON'S EXPERIENCE (Per United Press Association; HAMILTON, Oct. 3. A unanimous resolution advocating the opening of wet canteens in the military camps of New Zealand was passed at a meeting of the Hamilton Rural Deanery Board. The rural dean, the Rev. P. Clery, of Putaruru, presided, and there was a fully representative attendance of clergy throughout the deanery, among those present being the Bishop of Waikato. Speaking as an army chaplain in the Great War, Bishop Cherrington referred to the evils which followed uncontrolled drinking by men outside the camps where wet canteens were not established, and compared this system with the advantages of having drink properly controlled by the Army authorities in the camps.

The views expressed by other church people in opposition to the wet canteens system in> New Zealand were criticised by several speakers, many of whom said their experience in the last war convinced them that a controlled wet canteen in camp was by far the better arrangement.