LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2598, 21 October 1915, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

"CIVE ME THE MEN," SAYB KITCHENER. Sir,—ls it a mere coincidence that Queensland, which lias thoroughly organised lier recruiting . campaign, under a special Minister of Recruiting, with spccial organising secretary ana committee, should be providing more than her quota of men for the Australian Expeditionary Force, while the other Stales are behind? lam told oil the best authority that the Government here is leaving to local bodies 10 stimulate and organise recruiting. is qujte right t'liat the various centres should rise to their responsibility in this matter, but has the Government nothing to do? Is there nothing: that' it can do to help local bodies. Hero are a few directions in. which such help could bo 'given. l'irst, lot it be found out definitely "ify one-half of the men called up from Wellington to go into 'Trent-ham Camp last week failed to respond to the summons. There must be a reason, and the sooner we know tlio reason the sooner wo can put things straight. Aext, let the Government get the best cartoonist in New Zealand to make some catch-the-eye pictorial posters of large size to go on tho hoardings. Tho theatres know tho value of this kind of advertising, and use it, but it costs money, and it is not fair to local bodies that they should havo to go to I his expense. These same posters should bo shown as a slide at every picture show, while a forcible speaker, one who speaks to the joint and knows Lis tacts, should give a quite short address. I lie Government should havo a film of life in the camp to show just what the men in the camps have to d .°> ja"} how they live. This film should be shown at every pici/uro show m tho Dominion, as well as a film showmg some of our men in the trenches, and one, if possible, showing the way tho women and children are being t-reat-fi • y ,, t110 Germans; it might be that tlus film could only bo shown to an audience of men, but it is the men that ive want to get, and I feel sure that if t'e imagination of the strong young men of New Zealand were only gripped by the horrors that are going on daily, they could not help but respond to tneir country's call. But so far, many, of our men do not yet realise what the war means. I Lear that it is intended to hold street-comer meetings, u it'll bands and singers. So I need uoc enlarge on that point. Cannot she Government arrange for a recruiting maich through the countrysido with a tody of recruits, a band, and a few; speakers? A doctor should accompany*|io march, and men should be urged tfere and then to volunteer and pass' tbo doctor and join the squad, but that' means that men should be dratted into_ camp as soon as they volunteer. 1s there any reason why this should not still be done? ' do it in Australia. If subsidiary camps were formed m the various districts, men could go there at once and could bo told t'liat it depends on themselves how soon they are moved to the main training camps. Lastly, cannot the Government approach tho' heads of tho various reli-' gious communities in the Dominion U a ret l U( ' s t' that a joint : appeal should be made to every minister of religion (1) to appeal from the pulpit for recruits, (2) to use his personal ii*~ iluence with his young men to get then( to volunteer, and (3) to arrange for 3 great day of prayer that wo shali not/ go down in this struggle bccause th» young men of the country have not the pluck to go to the front; for, after all, will not the victory in the end go to tho race that has the most pluck ? —I am, etc., .

H.HAROLD ROBJOHNS. 1 .b.—Cannot the Government mako an arrangement with the Press bv winch the middle of one page is K~ served in every issue for recruit in" purposes? If they do not know how to utilise the space, ask the publioity agents or theatrical managers, and they will tell you.

WAR CORRESPONDENTS AND THE PRESS.

Sir,—Most of your readers read front time to time glowing ,*>ud descriptive narratives of events happening at tha scene of hostilities, as detailed by various Press war correspondents. Ashmead Bartlett, we are told bv a cabld message, has been interviowsxl by the "Sunday Times," and has suddenly come into prominence by detailing hia views of the situation to this well-known' journal. He made such an impression on one local paper that his photograph appeared in its columns, and readers of that journal were liable to mistako the photo, for one'of our bravo Y.C. heroes. Now, sir, I am thankful we have a great and good man liko Lord Kitchener as our War Lord. His word is his bond. Ho knows how to keep secrets. A man of few words, but a ,great character reader, hei co his wis-? 'dom ill preventing even Press war cop. respondents wielding au evil influence on the public mind at a crucial time in, our history. Some of these war correspondents would be moro fittingly employed_ if they were in uniform and iii : the firing line. This is the noblest way ; to become a hero. It is a pity that the Press in this country devote so niucli attention, to reports, from irresponsible sources. Lord Kitchener, who lias supreme control over the \\*ar. Party of tho greatest Empire in tho world," has not yet delegated those powers vested in him to a war correspondent. We as Imperialists helieve that he has made wise provision for all emergencies in tils' great war theatre, and know the probable position of the Balkan situation from every standpoint before our war, correspondent "saw the light of day."' No man is infallible, but from a hpina standpoint thero is not a man in the world to-day, in my opinion, who is obla to grasp the situation better than Lord Kitchener. We must have patience, and if we rise to the occasion and unselfishly give our lives and our substance with-, out looking for reward or interest (lika our bravo boys are doing), the war will not only he brought to a successful issue, but the Imperial spirit of Great Britain will becomo a mightier power among all tho nations for upholding and defending the cause of right against tlia forces of evil. —I ami etc., A. .11. HORNBLOW. October 20.

THE LOAN. Sir, —By yesterday's mail 1 an) ill receipt of a copy of the prospectus of our Government's 4V per cent. loan "to provide moneys "for local expenditure during the war." The terms are good and the rate of intorest offered ia generous, but to my mind the proposal has one most awful dcfect. Tlio Commonwealth Government (whoso lovo of ofTico transcends even their lovo of, country and of Empire), in'applying foil money on similar terms and conditions, havo in their prospectus stated that, tlio money so raised is to be used "for war purposes only." Why eafuiot_ New Zealand do likewise? The drainage of tho llangataiki swamp or the Otira tunnel, or a new railway station for Wellington does not appeal to mo at present. 1 should like to be in receipt of some of the ■!$ per cunt, free of lmi 1 think I should be doing" wrong in .subscribing lo (his loau. I would rather lend it to the Mother Cimutry or the Australian Government, or hold it idle, in case it may bo needed for shooting enemies.—l am, etc., PENSEROSE. [At tlw present lime wo are getting our war loans from the Mother Conn-' try, but we cannot borrow 'tliero for public works purposes.]