SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR

Southland Times, Issue 17792, 22 July 1916, Page 2

SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR

To t!ie Kditor. Pi,-- —This forenoon I lia.il just read :n tlii;- morning's Times what Mr Herdman SH'ti in the House about the little harm soldiers had suffered through the liquor traffic. He did not believe in taking away “the’f little liberty.’’ A few minutes later 1 was in a shop in Dee street when a soldier staggered in quite drunk, and insisted that the shopkeeper should give *.irn certain goods to which he pointed, as he "was fighting for him,” and when asked to leave he refused. The shopkeeper then went round to the other side to attend to a customer when I saw the soldier pick up an article and walk out of the shop. The shopkeeper came round at once, followed him up on the street and took it from him. I saw and heard all that took place. It is surely a pity that the King's uniform should be so disgraced. This soldier might have been handed over to the police, but people are forbearing to those who have chosen to fight under the colours. If this young man had been brought up for stealing, the old story would be told, —that he did not steal, it was the liquor tliat did it. But the liquor only does It when it is Inside the drinker. And this is going on more or less over the whole dominion.— I am, etc;., F. July 21, 1910.