CANTEENS AT MILITARY CAMPS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2677, 6 December 1909, Page 3

CANTEENS AT MILITARY CAMPS.

1 RESOLUTION AT ST. ANDREWS CHURCH.

The following resolution was put and carried unanimously -after both the morning and evening services at St. Andrew’s Church yesterday: “In view of the proposals before Parliament for compulsory training, this congregation respectfully but strongly urges the Government to strike out the provisions in the Bill for the establishment of canteens in military camps, believing that these will constitute a serious menace to the youth of the Dominion." In the morning the resolution was moved by Mr. John-'Warren, and seconded by * Mr. Andrew Graham. In the evening Mr. Robt. Johnston was the proposer and Mr. F. J. Rowley the seconder. Both the gentlemen who moved the resolution are old volunteers. . -

RESOLUTION OF NEW ZEALAND , ALLIANCE.

fPisit ihucsH Association. l WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. The executive of the New Zealand Alliance, -while* not now entering into the discussion of the general subject of compulsory military training, resolved at a special meeting yesterday, “That inasmuch as the canteen in military camps serves no useful purpose, but,f is a. source of dangerous temptation to many, and has frequently led to scenes, of regrettable excess and disorder, the executive of the Alliance enters its emphatic protest against tho inclusion of canteens .for the sale of intoxicating liquors in tho Military Bill, which is to- come before Parliament during the coming week. It- believes that when parents realise- the danger to which their .sons will he exposed through the canteen, many will rise in protest and decline- the military proposals altogether .rather than risk the ruin of their sons. There are fathers who quite approve of the principles of volunteering, as such, for their sons who Will have good reason to oppose the whole system if their boys are to be exposed to the drinking customs which destroy more lives than a foreign foe has ever destroyed.”

PROHIBITION LEAGUE’S PROTES'i

CHRISTCHURCH. Dec. 4

At a meeting of the Christchurch Phohibition- League the following resolution in regard to canteens at military camps under the new Defence Bill was

■a: “That the Christchurch Prohibition League, representing not only the No-license party, but in this matter the whole of the temperance sentiment of the city, expresses its surprise that tile new Defence Bill submitted to the House of Representatives contains no provisions lor the. abolition of canteens. It views a.s quite inadequate the suggested provision that persons under 2-1 years of age shall not be allowed to enter canteens, and urges that the only satisfactory settlement of the question, in the judgment of the majority of the electors of the Dominion, will be the abolition of the system. It protests against the continuance of i-lie custom to be not only unnecessary, but pernicious in the extreme, especially in view of the fact that the youth of the Dominion are to be compelled to enter camp every year, and it calls upon the Premier and Minister of Defence and members of the House to amend the Bill in this particular at once.”