SOLDIERS' HOMECOMING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1628, 3 May 1919, Page 8 (Supplement)

SOLDIERS' HOMECOMING.

To the Editor of THE SUN. 'Sir,—As a result of experience, and by way of protecting our returned sol-, ■diers, the authorities have caused all liquor bars in the cities to be close on the arrival of a troopship, as was the ease last Wednesday.' .'. ' • Sir, a few weeks ago I travelled on the Midland express, on my way to Greymouth. There, were a number .of returned men in the compartment—fine fellows, they looked, and all sober. At Eakaia, 36 miles out, when' the train stopped, a number of them ran across to the hotel there. They evidently had a nip and returned, three of them carrying a bottle of whisky each. The"contents of these was consumed and the empties dropped on the , line, before reaching Springfield. Here a.wagonette/bearing a sign "Springfield Hotel. Returns in. time for train,"'' awaited the train's arrival. This conveyance was instantly rushed, and drove off, returning on time, some of the men bringing a fresh supply of liquor. Before reaching Arthur's Pass the condition of some can be better imagined than described. At Otira there is an interval between arrival of the coach and train time—just long, enough (for those, who were fit) to get a further refresher. When we reached Greymouth some of the men were so intoxicated as to be unable t« recognise their relatives awaiting to welcome them, and had to be hustled into conveyances out of sight. Can you imagine, sir, the feelings of these p'arents and sweethearts at such a moment. A week later a father and mother awaited their son, who was returning invalided from France. They had travelled afar to meet, him at Grey. When he arrived his condition . was such that he had to be taken straight to Grey Hospital, where .he was detained for two weeks, suffering a- recovery from delirium tremens. This, sir, is only one instance of what is occurring all over the Dominion. If it is necessary to have Prohibition at one point, why not protect the returning soldiers from the temptation of excessive drinking till they at least reach their homes? And not only save the self-respect of the men themselves, but save their relatives from unspeakable, disappointment and shame.—l am, etc., FATHER OF SOLDIERS.

[Rakaia is not on the Midland line. \Posfk'Vl3!.. correspondent means Darfleld.— Ed. The Sun.]