MILITARY CANTEENS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2678, 7 December 1909, Page 5

MILITARY CANTEENS.

THE AGITATION FOR THEIR

ABOLITION.

rp E n Piiess Association.] AUCKLAND, Dec. 6. On Saturday local ministers received telegrams from Mr. T. E. Taylor, on behalf of the New Zealand Alliance, requesting them at Sunday services to have resolution passed protesting against the proposal in the Defence Bill for the obtaining of intoxicants in canteens in military camps. In most- cases the request Avas acceded to, strongly-worded resolutions being passed by congregations. _ FEILDING, Dec. 6. A very large congregation at the Wesleyan Church yesterday considered the question of canteens at military camps. Afy. C. H. Poole, M.P., spoke on the matter, after Avhich the Rev. C. E. Beecroft, ex-president of the Wesleyan Conference, proposed that the folloAving telegram should be sent to/ the Premier: “Deeply concerned at the Government proposal to continue facilities for obtaining intoxicants at military camps. Considering the grave moral danger to which the liquor canteen system exposes the youth of the Dominion, the Feilding Wesleyan congregation earnestly and emphatically urges its abolition.” The motion was carried unanimously, and a telegram was sent to the Premier this morning. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 6. In all non-episcopal churches in the citv and suburbs, also the Young Men’s Christian Association, resolutions were passed condemning and protesting against the establishment of canteens at military training camps, as proposed ia the Defence Bill. Resolutions were passed unanimously by -large congregations. This morning’s papers contain letters to the editors both for and against canteens, mostly against. There is only one strong one in favor, from an ex-con-tingenter. ' ASHBURTON,, Dec. 6. Yesterday all the non-conformist Chu relies passed resolutions protesting against the provisions for canteens being included in the Deience Bill. Several young men’s Bible classes also passed similar resolutions, considering that canteens were calculated to exercise a demoralising influence on young men compelled to attend camps. OAMARU, Dec. 6. The local church congregations yesterday adopted strong resolutions protesting against the provision for camp canteens in connection with the Defence Bill. DUNEDIN. Dec. 6. At a meeting of the Temperance and Morals Committee of the Methodist Church of New Zealand to-day, it waa decided to enter a vigorous protest against the provision for a canteen in the Defence Bill.