LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2586, 7 October 1915, Page 9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A CREAT OPPORTUNITY. Sir,—lt is impossible to think that any young man, unless he is an absolute shirker, or, worse, a coward, will fail to immediately enlist, after reading your stirring articlo, "Tho Test of Manhood," in your issue of this morning. It may be, however, that many will not sco this articlo; and these may not realise tho terrible issue at stake, and their consequent positive duty to their country, and tho glorious fellows who arc shedding their blood at the front. I am sure they only want a lead, and they will come forward in thoir thousands.

I make the following suggestion:— Let all tho rich young men of the country, squatters, heads ,of business firms, and others get together, with the object of helping the recruiting along. Let all these young men themselves enlist; let each one take a certain area and travel round, personally interviewking every man of fighting ago, explaining tho terrible urgency of the situation, and pointing out in tho strongest way what is tho solemn duty . of every man in this great crisis. The rich young men, whether they are married or single, should all go to tho front: they have all done so at Home. If they are married, their wives and families are provided for; if they are singly it is even more their duty, to go than if is of tho 'poor man. They- are the right men to carry out such a scheme as I suggest; for they have or can make the time. They are accustomed to dealing with and to handling men in their employ; and the mero fact ■ that thev are going to the front themselves will draw others after them. I suppose it would be on tho safe side to say that in each of the three districts of Wellington, Masterton, and Palmerston North you could find, at least, 20 sucli rich young men, or say 60 in all; and the other provinces— Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, Westland,. and Nelson—would find as many each, or say 300 in all. Imagine what 300 young men of means, who really meant business, could do in the way of raising recruits I I am much, mistakeu if each man could not get at least 80 to 40, say 10,000 men. Of course, they will have to make sacrifices; out what will these be compared witll their loss if Britain is beaten, not to mention their shame and humiliation if' they have, not helped? If organised, we old men, and the women too, will turn-to and help to keep business going.

Such a movement here would certainly set the ball. a-rolling in Canada and -Australia; and if New Zealand can give 10,000 more men, the others could, contribute between them SO,OOO, making a grand total of 100,000 additional men to help finish this horrible war quickly, ana to punish' the brutal nation which went into ecstacies of rejoicing when .1500 men, women and children were sunk in tho Lusitania. 1 km an old man whose great Eorrow' is that he cannot iiglit in this great cause, and there' are hundreds of others who feel as I do. The young men, if they would think, would realise their great privilego of- being allowed to fight in the most just cause for which any war was ever waged.—-I am. etc., 65 YEARS OLD. ,