DRUNKENNESS IN CAMP.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13413, 10 May 1912, Page 6

DRUNKENNESS IN CAMP.

CONDUCT OF TERRITORIALS

LETTER TO MINISTER OF

DEFENCE,

A PROHIBITIONIST PROTECT. Christchurch, May 9. Arising out of the allegations innd 0 regarding drunkenness at Territorial camps the officers of the Christchurch Prohibition League have addressed me following letter to Mr. A. M. Myers, Minister of Defence:—

"S\ re are enclosing a copy of a left-er addressed to General God:ey, in which certain facts arei stated concerning drinking in connection with the Torri torial camps. Wo have no reason to believe that the condition of affairs prevailing -at the camps specified was any worse than that obtaining at 'Other camps. Indeed, knowing the officers, wo have every reason to believe that' they were extremely solicitous for the welfare of tho&o undor them. The fact ot the matter is that the camps should not havo been placed in the proximity of hotels. When the Defence Bill was going through the House your predecessor in office, a« Defence Minister, promised definitely, in reply to Mr. Newman, that no camp would be established within five miles of an hotel. We think you will agree with us that, apart altogether from the moral aspect from a military! and disciplinary stand-point, this is | necessary, and desirable. In addition to this we wish to urge strongly this aspect of the} question: that the camps are compulsory and consist largely of mere boys ; that'parents are compelled to send ■their sons for military training; and that under these conditions they have a right to expecb that the utmost oaro will bc< taken to preserve from contamination their sons, who are of an age at which few boys havo learned fixed principles. In a letter to General Godley instances are given of objectionable! conduct on the part of the Territorials at the Templeton and Rangiora camps, due to drinking." The letter concludes: "With regard to the camps with which wo are more closely associated we have brought no charges of extensive drunkenness, and we havo recognised that on your o,wn part, and on that of some of tho commanding officers, there has been an earnest effort to stop all drinking, but our point is that so long as the I sites of camps are chosen with disregard |to the promise made by the late Minister of Defence, that no camp would bo heJd in close proximity to licensed houses, it is impossible to prevent a certain amount of drinking. ISow, as the Territorial camps do not consist of volunteers but of young lads whoso parents are compelled by the law to sesid their sons for military training, we think we make no extreme demand when we urge that the promise referred to shall ha rigidly fulfilled."