[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR. " ] SIE,—I have read
with considerable interest the articles and letters which have appeared in the Spectator recently on the subject of drink and its evils in the present crisis. By far the saddest feature, to my mind, is the increasing number of soldiers' wives who are squandering the Government's generous separation allowance on drink at the expense of their children. Can nothing be done to stop this P The rising generation is a very precious asset of the State, and the mothers' allowance is obviously made sufficiently generous to enable them not only to nourish their children but also to lay by a little for the future. (The husband's " keep " is, of course, saved.) If they will not do this voluntarily, is there any reason why they should not be compelled—i.e., on the lines of the Insurance Act? If even a shilling were kept back weekly from allowances of over £1, both family and aitate would benefit considerably at the end of the war, when the accumulated savings would, of course, be returned. The principle of deferred payment is, I fancy, well known in the
Civil Service.-1 am, Sir, &,c., A. W. R. CHEALHS. Hatherop Rectory, near Fairford, Glos.
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