Dear Sir,

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 25, 6 March 1942, Page 4

Dear Sir,

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the paper only and where a nom--de-plume is used the name of the writer must be included for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the ujjhi to abridge* amend or withhold any letter of letters. MILITARY SERVICE DODGERS Sir, —Now that married men are going into camp, I think it high, time that something was done about the number of eligible single men who are still successfully dodging service, behind a pack of untruths told to the. Manpower Committee, or by openly flouting the authorities; and refusing to acknowledge all communications from military headquarters. The Avhole system of enlistment becomes unfair, and unBritish, when we are forced to see homes broken up in order that men should be enabled to go into camp, while hundreds of others, far more eligible to serve, continue to utilise their farm,'funk-holes,' and to openly defy the very laws of the land, without being penalised. If there is a potential 'fifth column' in this country, Sir, I contend that its members are composed of those spineless beings, who continue to selfishly hide behind the patriotIsm of their fellows in order that they shall be spared the necessity of doing their bit. There never was a more dispicable, low, or depraved streak in the make-up of any man, than this wartime art of dodging duty. To think that we in New Zealand should have reared such individuals in our midst, masquerading as decent citizens makes us burn with sliamcr But I contend now sir, that the time for toleration is over. Married men are going off to do their bit in the greatest war for freedom, that the world has ever known. The time is ripe for a bit of weeding out, nnd if our legislators don't do the jcb for us, I will gladly make one of the general public who will rise up and demand 'fair play.' If that should fail, I can only warn the Government' of the development of a rather ugly tone on the part of the self-same general public. I sincerely trust that this letter, straight from the shoulder, will have some effect, and will not be neg!e?ted by those in authority. The warning is a sincere one, which I hope will be treated seriously. Yours etc., 'GUARDSMAN. *

ONE EMERGENCY PRECAUTION?

Sir, —-I have read that before, our Forces in the Far East evacuated places invaded by the Japs they broke all the whisky bottles. The idea of this was that as the Japs do not get -any strong drink in their own land they might get out of hand if they plundered the whisky * stores. It is said that terrible deeds at Nanking in China followed the Japs getting hold of the white man's liquor. Very well, then Mr Editor, can you enlighten your readers as to whether local E.P.S. plans provide for the blowing up for our local "pubs" in the event of our country suffering the fate, of Hongkong and Singapore? I for one would be much relieved to know that there is a ton of dynamite in the cellar of our two local establishments, all wired up so> that it can be exploded ' by pressing a button. In fact, I was wondering whether a full-dress rehearsal of this phase of the E.P.S. might be held. Then there might be less work at the local courthouse for the Magistrate and J.P's, and 110 - Maoris getting "run in." But for goodness sake don't let the Japs plunder the cellars. . Yours etc., T. TOTALIZER. , (We have 110 knowledge on the subject raised but would refer our correspondent to the local H.G. Intelligence Department. Ed).