WHAT OUR READERS THINK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2473, 28 May 1915, Page 6

WHAT OUR READERS THINK

VOLUNTEERS AND NON-VOLUN-TEERS. HOW TO DISTINGUISH THEM. (To tho Editor.) Sir,—From timo to timo letters havo appeared in your valuable paper pointing out tho unfair criticism "rejects" are subjected to by tho public, from no fault of the reject, but because they have nothing to show that tlioy have ofl'orod their services to their country. As more men go this criticism will become more pronounced. A mitten certificate folded in one's pockofc is of little value except to one's personal friends. I therefore offer a suggestion which may oxpose shirkers who aro hiding behind their sweethearts' petticoats, and also put thoso at present not up to tho standard required by the authorities, in a hotter light with tho public. It is this: Say volunteers aro boing called for as ■ at jrcscnt. Single men between 20 and 40 years old, etc. Evory man between thoso had. of coursc, a right to offer. Having done so and having subjected . himself to tho medical test (this must be compulsory), 'ho could ho registered under a numbor, etc., and placed on a list as ready for servico if required. He would then receive a clasp, say, similar to that of the National Dofenco with his Jnumbor of registration on the back. This clasp he could wear, showing that 110 has offered and been registered as willing to present himself for service if required in any capacity whatever. . There would be 110 rejects, each volunteer would be an honorary member for defence awaiting tho cail of his country whether tho call canio sooner or later or not at all. That would be a matter for tho State. 'Tho public would see that a man had dono his duty and would not want to know more. The man would know ho was doing his duty and would know that the public knew it also, and gave him credit. If a man did not respond to the call if required, or wished to withdraw, the clasp or medal being the property of the State, would have to bo returned to tho authorities and the name of the ex-volunteer published. At the same time, anyone found wear>"g, the badge under falso pretences' could be dealt with under the military authorities. Tho clasp or badge would bs highly esteemed; it would bo a memento to t'ho volunteer of the war, and an heirloom to his ohiklren, showing that their fathor was prepared to give his ate for his country. The registration and number would be valuablo for future reference for tho hour may yet come when we shall be glad to accept the services of many who do not at present come up to our ideal of measurement, etc., not necessary for the fighting lme, but to relieve others at present engaged in clerical ; and other work and allow them to go further to the front.—l am, etc H. ALLEN. AN ENLISTED MAN'S EXPERIENCE I' l their search for a reason as lo why the response to the call to arms has fallen short of what it should be, I am afraid the authorities have not yet touched the vital spot. Having been through tho mill myself let me give my experience. After volunteering some three months back I was promised a position in the Sixth Reinforcements, my previous discharges, aiid medical certificate being first-class. I was informed for the Sixth was full up, so left my name on tho roll for the Seventh, thinking I would bo called on m a month's time. However, I eventually found I had to wait another two months for the Seventh, and adding to that the period to be spent in camp and on transport to Europe would bring me well into December. Since some of our leading military critics have predicted an end of the war by tho end of the year, and it is all tho more likelyas joined us, what chance of joining in the fray would I ever have? Since it is a bad policy to criticise Without suggesting a way out, let me point out where I think an improvement could be made. Let every man as lie volunteers, and is passed as medically fit, go ijito camp straight away. This gives a lot of satisfaction to the recruit, as in camp lie finds plenty to occupy his mind, and his military ardour is not likely to dio down, a 6 he has prospects of getting away earlier to the seat of operations. In" reply to this tho authorities will say they havo not sufficient inst-nictom for the extra m ® n - Here is the way out. Instead of all the men spending four months in camp (N.C.O.'s fivo months) as now, I would suggest the most proficient in drill be placed in a class by themselves and when there is sufficient of them to nil a transport let them ! leave for tho front. By this means tho camp would bo emptied as fast as it was filled, and a great incentive would he given to all ranks to do their best so as to got away without delay.—l am, etc., , "FABUS MAXIMUS." Palmerston, May 26, 1915. WELL-TO-DO STAY-AT-HOME YOUNC MEN. Sir—The reason so many people hold the view that single men should enlist, instead of married is undoubtedly be- ' cause of the children and wives dependent upon the latter. Now as so many able-bodied young men appear to prefer to stay behind, and as the Empire ' is desperately at war, and urgently inneed of men, will these well-fed spoilt ' young men undertake to pay £2 per 1 week or more into a fund to provide food and clothing for the children of •- the married soldiers who may fall on 1 the "field of honour," the money to be ' paid until such time as the children are' 1 earning? Why, Sir, I know a young man i whoso income, apart from wages,-is £10 ' a week. He is fit and well, yet won't 1 enlist. Why should he not be compelled to pay £5 per week towards the food and clothing of the little children of the patriotic father' who lays down his life for his country? One will see these cowardly shirkers at the winter dances, and let every girl remember it. i When she is asked for the "pleasure of this dance," let her reply, "Whv don't | you go to the front?"—l am, etc., j A SOLDIER'S SISTER. , i WHO ARE SHIRKERS? 1 1 Sir, —Your correspondent "Mother" * heads her letter "Show Up the Shirk- ' crs." She will undoubtedly agreo with ' me that "shirkers" are an undesirable I class among us at the present crisis. < We all condemn tho "shirkers," but ( thero aro many men in the Dominion i who are "turned down" by the doctors 1 on accpunt of some slight blemish. This slight blemish looks very well on t paper, but 1 ask, "Why aro these men c not given a chance?" Surely a few 1 weeks iu the training; camp will prove I whether they are really unfit, and will .t entail 110 great expense. As it is, 1 many men are indignant at being re- ' icct'ed 011 account of a trivial outward ' sign of weakness, such as an operation. ) They aro rejected, and are often looked i urion as "shirkers." 1 make bold to t uay that many of these "rejocts" would ' prove themselves superior to the "ac- c ceptods" if they were given the chance. As it is, numerous good men are lost. I cannot agree with the notion that every "reject" should wear a distinguishing badge. Are we to publicly narado our unfitness? If I wero offered a badge 1 would scorn to wear it. White feathers are being circulated in this country, and many a recipient of these "favours" is dying for the c chanco to join with his more fortunate t friends iu going to the front. ; It is a ' contemptible trick to present whito ' leathers to a man who has made, sev- c oral attempts to join the colours. ' Often those who arc foremost in pre- ' /""itiue, tho white fcathor. to a fellow^

creature are the most cowardly them- s selves. | ( Those of us who honestly believe v.-o i urc lit for service, in spite of some very slight blemish, say: "i'ut us into camp; o give us a chance; and in the majority « of cases the doctor's diagnosis of unfit- 11 fiess will vanish into tlun air, and wo v shall take 6ur place besid6 the best o manhood that this country can pro- I duce." As lor the iiidiscrimitiating uso v of white leathers, I can only say it is t :i most contemptible act, and tho in- d dividual who delights therein is, iu tho g majority of cases, more of a coward 1 than even the "shirker."—l am, etc t , r _ UNFIT. I: May 2a, 1915. A BADGE FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS, v Sir—May I be permitted to make a i suggestion which will have a double feffect, that is of showing up the shirk- r drs aud those who have volunteure" for i service ? 1 would suggest that a i badge bo given to the volunteer after c his medical test, such badge to bo ; given whether the volunteer is accept- i od or rejected. This badge may be i worn by the volunteer until Tie "goes into camp, when It must be handed to l the officer in charge. i This, I think, would be a fair way t of treating those who volunteer their I iifo for their country, for by this method ( none other than friends ne£d know wfee- I tlicr tho wearer is accepted or rejcct- i ed, as many men who volunteer and i are accepted have to wait a few-weeks I before going into camp; and I thifik if this badge bo worn it would have a I ureal, cffcct on recruiting, and bo a i very flood way of showing up the ] shirkers. A man rejected is just as much i worthy of recognition as the man ao- ' ceptcd, for he lias done his duty by 1 offering his life for his country, there- : foro should ho not bo rewarded in a < manner such as I suggest, when ho may ! wear the badge a3 a volunteer, and not I as an advertisement to tho public of I his unfitness for tho firing-line ?—I am, etc., I A VOLUNTEER. I SHIRKERS.AND POLTROONS. | (To the Editor.) Sir, —1 notice in your issue of to-day's date that tho Government intend paying married men offering their services for the front one shilling per diem more than single men. J venture to think that prior to that being done to increase the number of recruit's offering, a census should be taken of all single men who come within tho age-limit, and 1 insist on them doing their duty to ' King and country by request. Of my own knowledge thero are hundreds of £ contemptible eligibles in our midst, ( whose hearts are lower down than their • boots, sheer funk prevents them giving ] in their names. There are also a num- ■ ber of poltroons who have oven gone the length of signing on, examined by : the doctor, passed, and sent for to report themselves at Trent-ham, and failed to do so. Sir,' you would not per- . mit me to use the language to express J the competent I feel for these things in L human shape. . Some method should . be devised to show this latter class up. If only to publish their names and ad- , dresses. No employer should allow ; them to work in their business. The i gentler sex should ' ignore them as I scum, and made marked men as much i as possible. The time is past for namby-pamby sentiment. Compulsion seems the only means of reaching tho \ carrion.—l am, etc., n DARDANELLES. 1 > Wellington, May 27. 1 POLITICIANS AS VOLUNTEERS. f ~ J (To the Editor.) \ Sir; —Is it to be wondered at that a Mrtain deplorable apathy is shown by < some of our young men, when- they - have prominently before their eyes the s example of certain members of Parliament? Certain large commercial firms are turning away unmarried men of a military age. Is it not time we, as a ! public, refused to pay members of Par- jj {lament of military age, for whose eer- J vices we have no uSe at present? The * country has little _ patience at * present for local politics; and less for P politicians who put party before our 0 national safety Will you kindly in- J form your readers whether New Zealand jj is unenviably unique in the British Empire in never having sent a single I member of Parliament to the front?— s t am, etc., . , ANTI-PARTY. * Wellington, May 27. J [Mr. W.' H. D. Bell was tho only * member of tho New Zealand Parliament who volunteered for service, and he and the Government were attacked in connection therewith in a most deplorable fashion by political opponents. Mr. Bell went to Samoa with our troops, and on Ms return went to England, where he rejoiued his old regiment.] j HEIGHT OF RECRUITS. TWO INCHES MORE THAN IN BRITAIN. * (To the Editor.) Sir, —With regard to the heteht of j men suitable for enlistment, I note T that in England it -is now sixty-two ( inches. Here it is sixty-four. If our j Government were to make the height j two inches less a large number of j strong, willing volunteers would roll up. , Many people have asked the question * which I reiterate. Why should a man , be disqualified because he is lacking in . inches? Surely he has fully as much advantage as disadvantage from short stature. Our excellent Minister of v • Defence is making it plain, though with h reluctance, that married men must go b if possible. This is' a decision that all right-minded will endorse if it is needful to act upon it. But why. not lower j, the height of the bachelor recruits first?—l am, etc., ONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO. B Hawera, May 20. c: r< THE DISCOURACEMENTOF f< RECRUITING. E SOME PALMERSTON SUGGESTIONS, z Sir,— During the opening stages of S the w T ar the Defence Minister and also lc the Prime Minister were openly stating that thero .was no difficulty iu obtain- n ing recruits in any quantity.' A 6 a ]j matter of fact, at the very time the a; Defence Department' was finding considerable difficulty in getting men, and w was eagerly availing itself of the services of tho Itecruiting . Committee, y Now the Minister finds it incumbent p on him to admit that recruiting is not quite satisfactory, hnd suggests that it is the duty of married men to go if £ possible. . 1 venture to say from local experience t< tliat thero is no shortage, and the diffi- - 0 . culty is largely occasioned by the 0 methods of recruiting employed and the u: position, shown from the above facts, .that the Minister is. not-in touch with j r his Department. I made'an inquiry at L the Defenco Department this morning 'X' on behalf of ail «it.endii\g recruit, as to f ( when, if ho enrolled, he could bo taken into camp. Tho reply I got was pro- s , bably tho middle of June, hut no guarantee could he given, as tho Manawatu , quota was complete, and unless somo j of the other districts were short it ■ would probably he August before more ™ recruits could be sent from ihero. This !l1 is a very comforting answer to givo to r f a man who is not only anxious hut will- " iug to serve his country, and if the married men who are now called on S aro to bo treated similarly the shortage is likely to continue. Tho local' Recruiting Committee have been doing their duty nobly, and will continue to do so, but their efforts aro hindered by two very serious difficulties, which could be easily overcome: First, they are unable io give any assurance to recruits as to the date they can go into mibr. Secondly, there is no place outr^

— j-. side Trontham where reoruits can be lodged while waiting for their 6Ummonß to camp. i Surely if the first difficulty cannot to overcome the second can, and the second would relieve the first. The establish; ment of a few permanent. camps in various centres in the Dominion would effect tho purpose. ; A suggestion to this effect by tho local committee met with a very unsympathetic reception, by tho .Minister, and caused a feeling oi disappointment that ho had failed to grasp the importance of the suggestion, Krem inquiries 1 have made, it appears that the cost of feeding the men would bo under 2s. a day each, they would draw no pay while waiting, would learn a certain amount of drill and discipline which might shorten their time in camp, would ho ready to go into camp at a moment's notice, and would not he lost night of when their services were re. quired hy the country. Speaking for this particular locality, thero would be no difficulty .in getting the necessary accommodation. There is no doubt that a very largo num bar of men have been lost by tho want of such places, and more will !'e lost it* the future. With diffidence I suggest- that the remedy for the unfortunate 1 existing stato of affairs is tho appointment or a Minister of Defence only who must be in touch with his Department, must give his entire time to his work, and must keep the public accurately informed of the position for the time being. The present Minister has obviously not the time to attend to it. On two occasions when recruiting rallys have been organised here he has been unable to attend. There is. nothing political in my attitude, and nothing personal. I don't care two 6traws who is the Prime Minister,. but I do care very much in the present crisis who is tho Defence Minister, and that he should devote his whole time and attention to assisting the people of Now Zealand to do their ntraost to aid our battered Empire in ite desperate fight for right and liberty. It is not fair to ask any man in the present exceptional crisis to act as Defence Minister who has also to hear the worry and care of two or three other portfolios.—l am, etc., FRANK H. COOKE. Palmerston North, May 26, 1915.