TEMPERANCE

Southern Cross, Volume 24, Issue 2, 15 April 1916, Page 7

TEMPERANCE

♦—i • THE DRY CANTEEN. . Mr Luke, Mayor of Wellington,, has expressed approval of the action of the action of the Government in adhering strictly to the principle of the "dry" canteen in the military camps. In answer to an interviewer, he said that it must be borne in mind that a 'soldier would object, .when coming iinto town, to be singled out for 'different treatment from any other, member of the community. For his own part, ; "he would object to any alteration Tn the liquor laws being applied to tlie soldier alone. . Any alteration of the present licensing system, to.be' effective, would ap,ply to soldier and civilian alike. The general feeling of the Dominion. is with Mr Luke. "Why should the

soldier be singled out for restrictive treatment ? If anti-shouting legislation is passed this session, it should certainly apply to civilian and soldier alike. ''• As for the dry canteens, Prohibitionists (and they are'a large body) would like to see this restriction extended so • far beyond the bounds of military camps as to include the. whole .Dominion.THE COMING- SESSION OP PARLIAMENT. The Prime Minister, in making a statement regarding the projected session of Parliament in May, was very careful not to commit himself by mention of 'any legislation • other than that proposed for'military compulsion, for a. War Loan, and)possibly for an amendment of the Finance Bill. The possibility is, however, that by the time Parliament meets, there will be such a strong expression of public opinion,in favour of six o'clock closing of bars, and the prohibition of shouting, that the "Government will see the expediency of introducing Bills to deal with these reforms.'

THE REFORM IN TASMANIA. Tasmania has, by a large majority in a people's poll, carried the measure for the six o'clock closing of bars'. All parts of the Empire, ' except New Zealand, seem to be rising to the occasion in the direction of restricting the destructive work .of the liquor traffic. It is time that we, as a nation, woke up. There must be some truth in the oft-made remark that as a people we in New Zealand do not yet realise quite what.the war'means. "BUSINESS AO Si AL." The view 'that we in New Zealand do. not-take the war seriously is borne out by the remarks of Chap-lain-Captain H. L. Blamires, recently returned from the front, in an address given in Auckland on March 28th. Notwithstanding the number of men we have sent away, he said, the people of the dominion hardly realise that there is a war at all. In .England the war is regarded as a serious matter, though everyone iis calm and confident as to the result. People save money, and there is no racing carried on. Here ,in New, Zealand we find that more money went on the totalisator last year than in previous years, and we are wasting time -si.nd money in betting. In England, France, and Russia the respective Governments have grappled with the drink question',; and'here in New Zealand it appears as ,5f the Government has not got the courage.to take the matter into its hands, and see that the interests of the nation are consei'ved, at least during the! period of the war.