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Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 762, 20 July 1916, Page 6

I would prevent an unceasing and extravagant waste of good money ! which could, and should, be diverted to nobler uses. If the Government is anxious to protect the solid iers' interests, let il establish wet i canteens in the camps—no more ef- ! fective protection could be afforded i against the spectacle of inebriated I men in khaki and against the evils I that appeal most strongly to young I fellows under the influence of I strong drink. But the Government iwill neither establish wet canteens | nor support early closing—in the J former case in deference to the ; wishes of people who misunder- ! stand the position, and in the second | because the pressure of vested in- ; lerests is too powerful or would inI volve too much trouble to resist. On ! this matter the Government is, we I think, out of touch with the public [mind, and it will come as no surI prise lo find thai, thwarted in the | House, those behind the early-clos-i ing movement will demand a referendum to decide the question.

j The Minister of Defence is hard lo move sometimes, but he does accept the suggestions of others when ! al last he is convinced of their worth, and so we have his announcei ment that Cabinet lias agreed to ini crease Hie allowances for the chil- ! drcn of soldiers. When the revised | Pensions Bill came up for discusI sion Ibis session many members urgI ed that the allowance of (id a day for each child should be increased to ,")/- a week, and they had behind I them the approval of most of the ; newspapers of the country, and, j naturally, the support of public opjinion. But the Minister refused to

consider the increase on fhc ground lhat it would unduly burden the finances of the country and encourage the enlistment of married men with children, which fhc Government did not wish to do. The Minister of Defence is still of that opinion as, we should say, arc most people, and therefore he added, in announcing the increase, that Cabinet had decided not to enlist under the voluntary principle any more men having more than two children. The Military Service Hill, of course, provides that family men shall be called on last. The provision is a wise one with which no one can disagree, and there will be general approval of the increase. The mother whose

husband is a soldier will, instead of 3/C a week, receive from July 1 5.'- a week for each of her children. Supposing a private with two children to allow his wife his full military pay of 35/-, the wife's income, counting the 1/- a day allowance for herself and the 5/- a week for the children, will amount to £2 12/- a week, which, even in this year of high prices must be considered adequate for comfortable living. The increase does show that the Government is mindful of its responsibilities, and not ungenerous considering its liabilities.

Though this war has seemed to show nothing but ferocity, horror, and misery on a vast scale, the chivalry of battle long ago survives unexpectedly, and now and again sends a gleam of its finer spirit through the desolation. There is an instance in the correspondent's account of the great battle by which Ovillcrs was taken, and the German troops defending il were decimated after valorous | hand-to-hand lighting in (he shafter■ed village. The brief cable message which tells of how the imperial j Prussian Guard fought, so that out jof an entire brigade there were only 126 survivors, concludes with the I phrase:—"Our men formed up and [presented arms as the sorry remnant |of Prussia's proudest troops were marching to the rear." That tribute of honour to a brave enemy is as | fine as any heroism, and, indeed, it 'reveals a spirit which is characteristic of heroic souls. To respect the ; valour of a defeated enemy was ever ! the way in wars of the past, and if j the foolish principle of "frightful- : ness" has sought lo banish chivalry in this war, so that we have heard little from the German side but tales ■ of insult and brutality to prisoners, ;if has not altogether succeeded, for | there are German soldiers who can ; also honour the bravery of their adversaries. Captain Bean, the Australian official correspondent, rei lates how, in the battle of the Somme I a British regiment charged a strong j position across a wide stretch of No Man's Land, only to be met with j such a deadly machine-gun fire that j their ranks melted away, and, though I they charged again and again, they I were forced to retire. But then the j German defenders did what seemed jan unprecedented thing, for, out of | their admiration for the gallantry of I that attack, they assisted the British | to carry their wounded back to safe- ! ty. Such instances are hopeful and j inspiriting in a warfare which has j shown such extremes of horror and I so little of fhe finer qualities bred of battle.

The proposals outlined by the Hon. G. W. Russell for the campaign : against venereal diseases should be 'sufficient, if all are put into effect, Ito meet requirements. An educational campaign among the growing .generation, the segregation of infectj ed persons until they are cured, and tiie establishment of hospital clinics i J where free treatment may be obtained by those who have the misfor- '. tune to be tainted, are all very necI essary provisions. The world has j hesitated over long to deal with the j vex\ scourge as it should be dealt J with, but reason has returned with | the war. Our asylums for the in- | sane and homes for blind and af- ; dieted children are crowded to-day ! because of the false diffidence with S which people regarded the presence :of this plague, which has carried, ! and is still carrying, on an eternal i war against humanity. Young men 'iivthe prime of their manhood have I sustained life-long injuries, and in- ; noeent women and children have j been doomed to years of anguish for j lack of that educational warning ■ for which the Government is now ! making provision. Quacks, with j their cruel and futile methods have | grown rich at the expense of countj less unfortunate individuals who j have suffered doubly because they i parted with their money to no beneficial purpose, all the while hoping ; for the cure that seldom eventuated j as the result of the ministrations of ; these medical imposters masqucradi ing as speeialists. The provision in the Hill making it a criminal offence for any person not a legally qualified medical man to treat venereal diseases, is welcome. The quacks deserve short shrift. In many Slates in America the leading newspapers refuse to take the adver-

, liscmcnts of these fellows and their I kind who trade undcrhandedly in drugs. New Zealand has clipped the wings of these deadly "practitioners" by various means, but there | is no doubt that the species is not ■ extinct. Once the Bill comes into j force these impostors will find it difI licull to make a living. This is entirely as it should be. All in all, the campaign against this dreaded j scourge promises hopefully.