R.S.A. AND NATIONAL EMERGENCY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22521, 1 October 1938, Page 22

R.S.A. AND NATIONAL EMERGENCY

TO THE EDITOR Or THE PRESS. Sir, —I read with something akin to dismay, the reported action of the headquarters of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association in forwarding to the Prime Minister a resolution of co-operation in the event of a national emergency arising from the European situation. Following that text of the letter is a statement that the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association has already sponsored the formation of platoons and 60 returned men have enrolled for duty at Fort Dorset.

. Possibly we are too old or selfsatisfied to revive a spark of the ‘‘guts” which characterised “N-Zed-ders” in the Great War but if, after all our experience of the hell of war, we jump to -.ttention and form platpons, then l.ie present generation may fairly wonder if 1914-18 was not something of a play after all. . 1 have.before me as I write a medal, on the reverse side of which is embossed, “The War for Civilisation.” I wonder what fantastic platitude will be written on the next war medal. In New Zealand alone, we have a score of peace organisations, each claiming its share of progressive ideas and, as far as to-day is concerned, are apparently waiting for Hitler to decide their future policy. There is one bright spot in the whole picture; one so vital and selfevident that I pray it may be an inspiration to the people of the world, the people who pay the cost, the people who give the real meaning to civilisation. Quoted from Thursday’s issue of “The Press” is the following: “The British National Council of Labour sent a message to the German people, urging them to restrain their Government from plunging Europe again into the horrors of wholesale slaughter on issues capable of peaceful adjustment. It is understood that certain steps • are being taken to ensure the message reaching the German people." Every word of that message is of such vital import to-day, that if it were backed by the will of the people, expressed through every Dominion Government, I venture to predict that peace would be assured. Is money required? Then let it be forthcoming. Whatever the amount, it would be cheaper than war. Whatever the effort, it would be amply rewarded.— Yours, etc.,

C. G. BURGESS. September 30, 1938.