STRAIGHT TALK BY A RETURNED SOLDIER.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 282, 18 December 1918, Page 12

STRAIGHT TALK BY A RETURNED SOLDIER.

At a meeting of the Cambridge Branch of the Farmers’ Union, Messrs Vealet and Clark waited uj>on the l nion as a deputation from the business men in tonnection with the proposals of the National Efficiency Hoard re the Liquor Trade. The following resolution was carried unanimously:—“That this meeting of the C umbridge Branch of the NX. Farmers’ Union supports the recommendation of the National Efficiency Board that a vote of the people be taken on a bare majority to abolish the liquor trade in New Zealand on payment of < ompensation, and pledges itself to do all in its power to secure legislation to this end, and to support the movement in this district.” Captain Peake, a returned man, in speaking to the motion, said he was not a total abstainer, but for the sake of the returned men who suffered from shell shock and wounds he would support the motion. He said that everyone had heard about the trouble in Cairo: the cause of that was drink. Young lads just out from New Zealand h.ul a few drinks, and did not know till a few days afterwards of the mischief that it had worked. Some of the wounded men who return are not responsible for their actions, and it was really an unfriendly act to take them in for .1 drink. The wounded men were work'd hard upon by the hospitals and Red Cross to get them into a fit condition t<> travel. The sea trip generally improved thcs t . men, but when thrx reach'd New Zealand a week’s drinking undid all the work of the hospitals at Home.