RETURNED SOLDIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14241, 16 December 1919, Page 7

RETURNED SOLDIERS

AN IMPOETANT COMMUNICATION. Tba following open lot tor is addresn•d to all returned soldiers by tua ex*t'Htivft of the jN«m Zealand MuderaU) League: — WELLINGTON, December, in, 1910. Gentlemen, — In view of the attempts being made by the Prohibition Party to discount the clear expression or opinion that you gave against prohibition at the April reforedum, and the statements made by them that the soldiers' votes wore cast against prohibition because of alleged misrepresentations made by this League in the letter which we had the honour of addressing to those of you who were overseas at tho time, the executive of* the League wishes firstly to record its opinion that the soldiers' vote was ths result of the .studied judgment of the men themselves and wan uninfluenced by auy partisan propaganda. . ' The" letter sent by the Moderate League to the soldiers prior to the referendum was a plain statoment of facts and the contents thereof still stand uncontr.ovcrted. Any returned soldier can cheek for himself the allegations made by the Moderate League against the prohibitionists an follows: (1) That the Prohibitionists took advantage of the aosence of the large body of men on active serviece to attempt to secure a catch vote. Proof: Sec resolution of New Zealand Alliance in "Dominion" newspaper of April 10, J 918, In -which an immediate poll was demanded and no mention whatever was made about the soldiers' right to vole. (Note also that at the same mooting the Alliance passed a resolution urging the Gov-

erriment to "stop Hie sal" of liquor at all ports of landing and at all platen where troop trains stop with returned soldiers."} The Moderate League immediately met and objected to any vote being taken while the soldiers were away—(See Wellington papers, April 11th), 1918). It was alter this that the Prohibition Party, seeing the game wan

up, admitted the right of the soldier to vote on the referendum. In its original demand for an immediate poll to take place during 1918, the Prohibition Party made no reference whatever to the soldiers' vote. If further proof is recjuired of the League's statement that the Prohibitionists were pressing for a vote before the soldiers came back it is only necessary to turn to the report ol the Rev. E. S. Gray's speech in the Wellington Town Hall on August 9th, 1918, when he said: "Let- us have this menace out of the road and the path cleared before the boys come home." Aiso speeches by Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., in Auckland on' July 29th, 1918, and of Mrs Don, in Dunedin, on July 31st, 1918. (2) That the Prohibitionists endeavoured to besmirch the good

nam* of the soldiers and brand them before the world as drunkards in order to secure some immediate advantage for their propaganda. Proof. See report of meeting W.C.T.U., March 23rd, 1915, resolution demanding prohibition of all soldiers in uniform. Methodist Conference resolution, February 24th, 1915, asking for prohibition of all soldiers Iti uniform. Similar resolution of Dunedin Prosbytcry, May sth, 1915. Prohibition deputation to Minister of Education, May 25th, 1915.

The following' is a typical illustration of the opinions expressed by the Frohibitionists. Extract from speech of Rev. Scorgie at Dunedin Presbytery (vide Otago Daily Timos, Mai* oth, 1915) :~

"It should be made absolutely impossible for soldiers to obtain drink. The present position in Wellington and other places was a grave disgrace and a scandal to the community. -.nung men's names were plnccd on rolls of honour all uvev tho country and the next thing they heard was that these men were seen drunk. The rolls of honour WOULD SOON BE BOLLS Of DISHONOUR if that sort of thing went on. The Government should make it impossible for mi-n in

camps to obtain liquor, and," concluded Mj Serogie, --AiNI'ONJS FOUND TAKING IT IJN SHOULD BE STRIPPED AND

FLOGGED." v It was beeause 0? such records as lis in the public press of New Zeand that the Moderate League felt

it a duty to acquaint the absent soldiers not only with the altered law, but with the*manner in which the Prohibitionists had vilified them for propaganda purposes. Not satisfied with securing dry camps and troopships from their friend the Minister

of Defence, the Prohibitionists even demanded that the hospital ships should be "dry," as witness resolutions in the press of June 11th, 1015, and subsequent Ministerial statements. To add further to the mass of unwarranted abuse and slanderous accusations both direct and implied levelled against the soldiers by the Prohibitionists, the W.C.T.U., Con-

vention in Christchurch (vide Evening Post, March 23rd, 1915) urged the Minister of Defence "to take immediate steps to appoint women patrols to work in the neighbourhood of the camps of Expeditionary Forces for safeguarding young people and tlie prevention of "disordcriey conduct."

Returned soldiers may for themselves (urn up the records in "Hansard" of the speeches of Prohibition M.P.'s in Parliament when the-early closing question was before the House;. Thfry will find there unfounded statements about (he frightful condition of drunkenness in which the soldiers were taken back to camp each night from Lamblon Station. Fortunately a committee of members with moderate views made special investigations and were able to publicly refute in Parliament the slanders that were levelled against the men. All sensible people realised, as you did yourselves, that a few men got "over the odds,'' but the object of the Prohibitionists was to brand the whole of the men in the hope of securing an advantage for their propaganda. During the five years of war the Moderate League has done its bestto preserve Hip libfertr of the subject mid at- o,c fum" time endeavour to have the liquor laws amended along sensible lines to l>riiig about a better service and remove all jvproaehes. The League bokls that under Stale Purchase and Control great improvements can be made without (repassing in any way on personal liberty and free choice iu this matter. The League has over,- confidence that with the "larger experience gained by the soldiers in I heir service overseas the issue at the forthcoming poll way be safely trusted lo their good judgment as before; but would, in conclusion, again point onl that if prohibition i« ©nee carred Hie law provide* that it shall be /or all lime and that no further vote will be taken on the liquor

question in New Zealand. The League would also point out that to vote agfllinsl Prohibition Rectors must strike out two lines on the ballot paper. Yours faithfully, D. M. FINDLAY, President. B. A. AEMSTKONG. Dominion Secretary.