ONE-YEAR PLEDGE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12256, 2 July 1909, Page 6

ONE-YEAR PLEDGE.

GENERAL SIR lAN HAMILTON AND TEMPERANCE.

General Sir lan Hamilton has taken the temperance pledge for a year. The occasion was the annual meeting lield at Caxton Hall of tho Royal Army Temperance Association, at which Lord Roberts distributed the awards. General Sir lan Hamilton, who presided, said he did not stand before the meeting as an apostle holding in his hand a shining light to guide their erring footsteps, but as a sinner m whose hand glimmered doubtfully a cam] c indicating repentance. When he reflected that in his thirty-seven years' service some 10,000 quarts of dutiable liquor had parsed down the throat of him whom they had asked to be their chairman his conscience pricked him. (Laughter.) It was one of tho traditions of the British Army that the officers did not say to their'men "Go on." but "Come on."> (Cheers.) He would bo happy to put himself in the position to do so by tiking -the pledge. The reason he fixed the period of one year was that it was quite long enough for any man to look forward to especially when he came to

He was assured by some who ought to know tbfifc he-re and there some roldier lsul, Regular or Territorial, in the Southern Command, might be induced to fo'low his example. To one proud of his profession that feeling was always that" the Army should be a triming school for character, and that - sol<Ver should return t-> civil life a firer fellow than he left it. ("Hoar, hear.'')