PRACTICAL PATRIOTISM.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2538, 12 August 1915, Page 6

PRACTICAL PATRIOTISM.

(To' the Editor.) Sir,—l was pleased to note in your yesterday's isjue a note to the effect that Messrs. George and Kersley, in addition to keeping open the positions of their employees who enlist, are also paying them the difference between the military pay and tho salaries they were receiving at the time of enlistment. Such practical patriotism makes us lift our hats, and is a great. contrast to many firms who are among the keenest supporters, of patriotism so long as it entails nothing moro than flag-waving and cheap tsJk, but who drop it like a "hot cinder" when il approaches their exchequer. Many of these, I am sorry to say, are firms that have comparatively speaking been hardly affected by the war. I happen to know of one concern that is reaping a very fine harvest out of the disorganisation brought about by the war, and is openly gloating over'the fact, but on the other hand is not prepared to offer any inducemont to encourage any of their staff to enlist, not even tc the extent of promising to install them in their old position if they Tctum. When we consider how badly the drapery trade has been hit, it increases our admiration for Messrs. Georgo and Kereley's fine example. Fortunately, they are only one of a number of firms'' that have proved such fine recruiting agents by their generosity, and I consider that such practical patriotism should not go unrewarded. If a list of these "good' examples" could be compiled and pub-, lished, I am sure tho public would show their appreciation by doing their best to see that their sacrifice is off-set to a very great extent by an increased turnover in business. At anv rato that ■m'quJ4 bs the aim of ' SOJU&Q, ,