CONSUMPTION OF LIQUOR

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 81

CONSUMPTION OF LIQUOR

CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY’S RESOLUTION.

CHRISTCHURCH, June 10. The Christchurch Presbytery to-day passed the following resolution : That, in view of the disfavour with which intoxicating liquor is now generally regarded by surgeons in the interest of patients, and in view of the splendid example of his Majesty the King and Lord Kitchener, and in the best interests of the moral well-being of the young men who have given themselves to fight the battles of the Empire, this Presbytery regards with great alarm and disfavour the purpose of the Government to provide spirituous drink, and that in an abnormal quantity, for _ the hospital ship which has been provided by the Government and by the free will of the people of the dominion. LIQUOR ONLY FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES. (From Odh Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 10. The Christchurch Presbytery has been alarmed because a quantity of liquor is being put on board the hospital ship, and has passed a resolution condemning the Government’s action. The Minister of Defence stated to-day that the liquor is for medical purposes only. “ I know all about this,” said the Minister of Defence when the matter was brought under his notice. “These people have got a wrong impression into their minds. As far as I know, although there has been no definite decision on the matter, the hospital ship will be a ‘ dry’ ship. By that I mean that the staff will comply with the conditions that are laid down for our training camps, and no alcoholic liquor will be supqjied to them except at the command of a doctor. But it is necessary that we should stock that ship _ with a certain amount of stimulants', which may be required for medical purposes, and the stock of stimulants that is being placed upon the ship is simply for medical purposes. It may be that the quantity seems large. I don’t know what the quantity is, but I do know this,_ that it is simply to make provision for six or 12 months’ service, and that it is for patients oply. The medical man in charge of the ship says he ought to have a certain amount of alcoholic stimulant on board. I presume that it is needed in certain cases for wounded men. If a man’s life were lost on the ship because he could not be kept alive for the time being with brandy Or someth!™* that Edit that the doctor

had recommended should be in the ship’s stores, I should not like to be the man responsible for his death by refusing now to allow stimulants to go on board the ship.”