CAMP LIFE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13877, 10 July 1919, Page 5

CAMP LIFE.

\ |L ALLEGED IMMORALITY.

STRONG REMARKS. %

In the course of the Labour interview with Ministers yesterday, Mr H. E. Holland, M-P., mado some strong re.Tnaarks as to the allegedly demoralising Aendeney of camp life, especially in the «ase of boys of eighteen.

Replying to the deputation, the Minister for Defence, Sir James Allen, stated "that Mr Holland had said that the amen themselves were immoral.

Mr Holland: I did not say that the men were immoral. I object to words Swung put into my mouth.

Sir James Allen: Now you aro run- ■ zning away from it! The Department, contended the Minister, had done what .it could to' check immorality in the ><camps.

I Mr Holland: By the issuing-of proHP, i'jphylactics? - • Sir James Allen: We have not issued in New Zealand: AT- Mr. Holland: No, but you do elsermhexo.

Sir James Allen said that the department had invited the V.M.C.A. and, the Salvation Army to co-operate with it in •-jthework, and they had done good work. Mr Holland: I do not refer to them. Sir James Allen denied that there was •more immorality in the (jimps than ottt--^side. Mr P. Fraser, M.P.: Army chaplains Ilaave told us there is. Sir James Allen: There are chaplains ■sm& chaplains. (Laughter.) . The ministers and chaplains,, he said, had rcferxed to lewd tongues rather than to lewd -fsonduct. He had given instructions ,-tthafc the officers for the training camps

, r should be selected for their character. he '■ sneaking, ho maintained, the Z' physical instructors had been clean-liv-_ig, clean-mouthed men, and wherever "they were not, the department had got «rid of them when .they knew of it. n. /Mrs Beck said that she had been giv- • «a_ to understand that a man was no .good as a physical instructor unless he «sould swear hard. (Laughter.) fSir James Allen assured her that that was not the ease. "The department,'' ..'_« declared, "has done more to clean it _p inside than —I am not going to say .anything about the churches," he broke 'Off, amid loud laughter, "but we are <loing,what wo can to clean it up, anyhow.' 3 ;"