WET CANTEENS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23940, 16 October 1939, Page 5

WET CANTEENS

TO THE EDITOR

Sir—The Anglican Synod, by itsmotion' in favour of wet canteens, has shown that it is 'still prepared to compromise with one of the biggest evils of the age—strong drink. This body; which should be, concerned with the spiritual welfare of the people, is evidently more concerned over the question of wet or dry panteens in the military camps. Do those members who voted in favour of wet canteens think that the boys who enter the camps will be improved either morally or spiritually by having free access to spirituous liquor during the time they are in camp? Do they think it right that many, of these boys who have been surrounded by good home influences should be given needless temptation to partake of strong drink on entering the camps? I cannot understand a Christian minister defending drinking in the manner that Archdeacon Whitehead is credited with doing, and I am sure his remarks must have caused pain to many devout members of the Anglican Church. Archdeacon Russell is to be commended for the stand he took in opposing the motion in favour of wet canteens, and I agree with his declaration “that by passing the motion the' Synod was guilty of an unchristian act.” If the Synod was not prepared to votes. in favour of dry canteens, it would have been much wiser to refrain from passing any motion likely, to influence the military authorities In making their decision. Its action, however, is only in line with its attitude to the drink traffic on many previous occasions. Had. the Anglican Church taken the' stand against drink which other Protestant Churches have, Dominion prohibition would have been carried over 70 years ago.—l am, etc., . 1 Parent, i Dunedin, Get 14.