"WHY WE WON'T ENLIST."

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2475, 31 May 1915, Page 6

"WHY WE WON'T ENLIST."

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I see Mr. Allen and the Government are very anxious for more recruits, and cannot understand why we single men don't rush and enlist. Well, 1 will tell you the reason. AVe don't object, in fact, are quite prepared, to fight and die if need be for our country, but we are not prepared to fight and die for others to stay at home and have a good time at races, football, theatres, etc. Let the Government adopt some system whereby everyone will do his fair share, then I, for one, will willingly go; but I will never enlist under the present system, which simply makes a tool of a lot of simple, good-hearted lads, while the wily ones reap the bene-, fit. Now, what would be fairer than a system such as this: 1. All single men between 25 and 30. 2. All single men between 30 and 35. 3. All single men between 22 and 25. 4. All single men between 35 and 40. 1 would not touch the married men if onough single men were available j and I would not take singlo men under 25 until those, at least, between 25 and 35 were exhausted, for two reasons. They have not learned enough in the svay of looking after themselves until about 25; and, further, have not perhaps had a chance of getting married, owing to lack of funds. If, however, thev have not saved enough to do so at 25, they have only themselves to blame. Another thing, a lad under 22 is quite unfit for the rough work of killing other men. I would take no one under 22. "A square deal" is, I believe, the Government's motto. Why not let us have it in this?—l am, etc., YOUNG NEW ZEALAND.