LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2600, 23 October 1915, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COMPULSORY SERVICE. WHY THIS INCONSISTENCY. Sir,—One aspect of our voluntary system deserves serious consideration by the people of our (Dominion. It is that aspeot of it which political economists call the "incidence of taxation." i\Vo as a peoplo willingly allow our Government i'o impose a war-tax on. us so Jong as the incidence of it is fairly adjusted. In fact, as we elect our Government,' we may be said to ourselves impose on ourselves a war tax, with tho incidence adjusted in fair proportion to all~cT"sseo. But this war does not only take a toll of money from up. It takes (and. wo willingly give mostly) a toll or't-ax'of human lives. This war, that ia 'means not only a taxation of the- people in money, but in human life. Under our voluntary sys-. tem how does tho incidence of taxation of human life fall? Is it fairly distributed? '. Do all contribute their share of national sorrow, anxiety, loss, of wounds,. death, and disablement? Not a bit of it. The patriotic suffer most, the impatriotic suffer little, or liot.at all. "So that wo have this contrast in tho matter: that whereas as regards taxation in money for war purposes we make all bear and share the burden (no politician that I know of has over said to tho people :- "We, will leave .it to each individual whether he shall pay any war tax.") • Yet in the matter of taxation of. human life for war purposes wo mako only those "willing to go" pay up. Is this fair? Is this just? From some " families go forth to the -war five, sir, seven, or more members, from others none go. There is such a thing as national thrift and economy of national life, anxiety, sorrow.' Let not the "willing to go" be the only class to spend freely of these commodities. Let us make the other class do their little bit also of .this spending. . They will do their bit in the trenches all right, once in the ranks. Let us have compulsory service—l am, etc., '• GRACE FOX. Club House, Moray Place, Dunedin, October 20, 1915.

OUR TROOPS AND DENTAfc TROUBLES.

..Sir,—l wish to point out one considerable reason why a great number of men are not.enlisting as readily as circumstances demand, There are a class of men who easily pass the required tests except'for their teeth. From my own' observations and from what the examining doctors tell me, about 80 per cent, have to get their teeth attendcd .to. This they must do beforo.tliey are passed, and they have to pay for it themselves. Often they cannot afford it, and so are lost as recruits. • There are many instances ' of this, the men saying: "Oh,-welll if the Government won't pay it for me, I'm off 'out-back' again." ■ Cannot the Government help these men until a proper dental scheme is in operation ? _ Since the-war began dentists allover New Zealand belonging to the New Zealand Dental Association, have given their services freely to intending reBruits, making iu most cases a charge for actual out-of-pocket expenses • only. It would astonish you if 1 stated the amount in money that the work would have cost, that I, as one, havo had the pleasure of giving to intending recruits, and there are many, more dentists,who have done, and are doing, the same ' The Government, does not seem to realise how much of.this important work has been given. At present they lire depending on the charity of the dentists. This cannot be kept up indefinitely, and the time has arrived v.'heii' the Government should help. ' I suggest that a Dental Corps, should bo formed of dentists, controlled at tho head by a dentist having proper military status, the same as-the Canadian Government. has established. At present there is no controlling unit under which the dentists at present in. tho camps work, except that they hold lieutenancies in the .Medical Corps. The practice of dentistry is' outside the sphere of the doctors, and they do not' profess to understand the requirements. Those men who are fit, except for their teeth, could go into camp and ho treated without losing much time away from drill, and where extractions are made, for plates to bo fitted later, 'the men could bo allowed a soft diet until they are able to wear plates. The need of dentists at the front is not illusory, but- a very real requirement, as in many letters from the. trenches mention is made of tho difficulty in getting treatment; there is so much to he done and there are 'so few dentists. Tho hard biscuits, etc., cause fillings to break out, and those wearing artificial plates frequently break them. Surely this phase of the men's comfort must bo studied, and remedied immediately. Dentists" all over the country have offered their services, and through tho Government not recognising the need of them they have in many cases gone as privates. To maintain tho men' in general health and fitness for periods over six months, an efficient dental staff must bo there to look after them. With tho German soldiers there are over 800 dentists, it is reported. The longer the war the more serious the dental trouble will become; therefore dentists must still be sent to tho front under efficient organisation, and with proper military status. —I am, etc., . HOWARD K JACKSON. [The Minister of Defence, discussing this question at Christchurch this week, said he recognised that the treatment of the teeth of recruits was a pressing question., It was also a big question financially, and he realised that even mere when he heard of the heavy percentage of men needing attention, as shown by the estimate mentioned. Actually the Defence Department took np tho attitude that it needed fit men, men who were ready to go into training and who did «iot need medical or surgical attention. He had thought that either the men themselves, or the people of the district from which they came, might have, mado themselves responsible for these initial expenses. Mr. MiUon said the C.D.C. had done wliat it could in the matter, but the fact was the organisation had not the funds necessary to carry, it out. The Minister suggested that if tho districts found tho money or some part of it, it might be posoiblo for the Gov"crnment to give a £ for £ subsidy. The Defence Department had been in : negotiation with tho Now Zealand Dental Association on the question, and he had. just received a draft cf a proposition to establish, with tho aid of the association, very much larger dental surgeries at the main training camps, with the object of doing a good deal more deDtal work while the men wero in camp. He could not speak definitely on tho mattor, as the sclierao was only just mooted, but he thought it highly probable that in the near future a large proportion of the minor casos needing treatment could be attended to in camp. In this event a number of men who were now "turned down" as temporarily unfit could bo taken in.]

MOTHERS, WIVES, AND SISTERS.

A SUGGESTION. Sir, —May I, a. soldier's mother, mako p. suggestion and ask tlio Mayoress in tfach town to take tho matter up? Could we not, in Now Zealand, form a flocietj', and only mothers, wives, and sisters of soldiers to be members. A married sister with a son or sons of military age who have not enlisted, not tj bo entitled to becomo a member. I ihink if each member woro a hadtio it.

would, help to create a great feeling of sympathy and friendship among our '.brave ivomen and girls, and the badge, I am sure, would be the dearest possession of every woman. I trust that' some able person will take this matter up, and that wo shall bo able to form such a society.—l am etc., MOTHER, Masterton.

REINFORCEMENTS V. PUBLIC WORKS.

Sir,—lt was long ago observed: "With what little wisdom men are governed." I suppose it will always be so, more or .less. The latest instance, to mv mind, is that whilst our so-called National Ministry is placarding the country with posters—"Halt 1 Your- Empire Calls You," "Serve Your King and Country," "Register Now"—the Ministry is equally as zealous]}' advertising for subscribers to their proposed loan for public works. Liko the proverbial Irishman, it would lengthen their country's blanket by cutting oft' ono end and tacking it on the other. How in the name of common sense can tlie very class of men required to serve their country in this life and death struggle for'our national existence not be counteracting our war strength if retained to carry out public works, which might easily be left alone whilst the war lasts ? —I am, otc. Y. '

KEEP AN EYE ON THE NEXT ELECTION. "

Sir,—When the Hon. Mr. Herries, while speaking on Native affairs in tho House recently, uttered the worels that appear at the head of this letter, it is interesting to try to imagine whether they were prompted by honesty or indiscretion. They were, according to report, used- to convey to tho House Mr. Massey's political attitude of mind when questions of national significance wero being discussed. ! Plato once said that "the consideration of keeping himself or his party in office should novel - enter a statesman's mind." His safety lies in doing his best for his people, and if his efforts are not appreciated ho and they must abide by the consequences. Politics, as wo have them in this country, are'a peculiar and uncertain business. Sir Joseph Ward has said that if the people have not got a good Government it is their own fault for electing them. _ Where, then-, does the responsibility lie—in tne 'people or in those who seek to servo them? I should say in the latter. The late W. E. Gladstone said that the people's hearts are always right, but they, are often badly led. Public service has, for tho most part, degenerated into a system _of petty demagogy, in which divisions . are created amongst tho people by factious orators and organisers, *aud political parties jiractise the most extraordinary contortions to placate tho majority ana secure office, regardless of policy, prudence, or the people's good. The arena of politics has, like most things, not escaped the contamination of professionalism. ...

_ Does Mr. Massey imagine that we can, in this time of national stress, confer favours or provide billets for any particular political party, or that in tiro years' time no change will have taken place, in the people's minds regarding our _ mothods of managing national affairs? There is a saying that things refuse to be mismanaged long, as witness the European debacle, and the process of, putting them right takes no notice of persons or parties, or of nations; its action is confined to the un derlying principles and art of government and international adjustment. But remedies for national evils do not, and cannot, come before a nation is in a state to receive them, and .the nature and extent of their, operation' must be suited to and commensurate with thenature and extent of the evil. We hero in New Zealand are a handful of free self-governing people, perhaps as intelligent and moral as any 011 the face of the earth, who have not yet got into any groove, and ill these abnormal tfmes it behoves us to consider if it is in otir best interests to follow the beaten path that has led to disruption in older countries. But before any departure is possible, we will require t<? realise that we cannot continue the present order of things in the face of a growing enlightenment and determination for better, social conditions and understandings. Any modification of existing arrangements call only /oliow a sincere desire on the part of all concerned for a tetter knowledge of one another's aims and aspirations, and -ungenerous. selfseeking would need to ho superseded by mutual good-feeling and a genuine national spirit. When so much is being said about patriotism and national unity wo should ask ourselves if our exclamations are not merely hysterical shrieks, begotten of a feeling of impending danger that will pass away with the disappearance of the enemy. If our character is such that we are only forced together to resist an external" enemy, and we have really no national cohesion at all, then 'twere better for us that stress and the purging process should continue.

Our churches are beginning to speak" of a national ideal, but what influence of a national character do they exert? I rather think that each ono is doing its boat for its own little sect, liko any other business—l mean, no irreverence, as they are suscoptiblo to the whirl of the commercial vortex-rand if our national note (if we have any) has been pitched rather loir, there is now a golden opportunity for improvement. But national ideals must of necessity come through institutions of a national character, and herein is the call to Mr. Massoy to rise to the occasion; the necessities of the timo demand it, the moral sentiment of the people is ready to support it, and leaders of the people must, m these troublous times, prove themselves leaders indeed, and not Bimply tools,' to give statutory' effect to that indescribable vagary popularly 'called public opinion. The next election, forsooth! How do we know there will be a next election ? If we cannot get out of our lethargy of our own volition, the time will come when we will bo rudely awakened out of it. Nature is sometimes a little' severe on nations as well as on individuals.—l am, etc., WM. BARR.

PROFESSOR VON ZEDLITZ AND MR SIEVWRICHT.

Sir, —Mr. Sievwright las managed to put into his letter more inaccuracies to the square inch than would have been oonoeived possible by anyone, however skilled in such efforts. • 1. Mr. Sievwright purports to mako a quotation, and says "See tlio professor's letter to the Press." There is no sucli letter. 'The professor has written lio letter to the Press.

2. He protends to quoto from a letter, when he says tlio professor's nationality was raised by himself, and ho gavo Mio Agent-General an assuranco that he would "become' not only a. permanent resident, but a citizen of New Zealand." Now, no such statement appears in any letter of tho professor's. Then, to emphasiso hi> misquotation, ho nays Professor von; Zedlitz had 14 years to "becomo a citizon of Now Zealand." Now I will quote verbatim from the only published letter of the professor's, it being the one addressed on September 1 last to t!he chairman of tho Collego Council: "Mr. Pember Reeves, having before him full particulars of my origin and career, asked mo whether I intended settling permanently in New Zealand. I assured him that that was my hopo and intention," Mark, tliero is not a word of promise or that ho would "become." Then t'he letter goes on: "He in turn formally assured mo that if I proved myself a useful citizen of Now Zealand I should bo exposed to no sort of discrimination. on tho ground of nationality." There can ! be hq, doubt that Mr. Reaves used tho

word citizen hero in tho usual senso of "inhabitant," and not in tho American political sense. If the. professor was a citizen in tho American sense there would be no difference of nationality. Perhaps you will instruct Mr. Sievwright 011 the morality of introducing into a quotation words not in 'file original. Then Mr. Siovwriglit says that the professor is not a citizen of Now Zealand. My dictionary, an old Webster, gives as the popular meaning of citizen,- a permanent resident. An example, is given of the distinction between; "citizens" and "enfranchised citizens." We wero all under tho imprc.i sion that tho professor is a citizen. He pays local rates and is on tho local roll and is a permanent resident.

Mr. Sievwright makes the unfounded and astounding statement that a merchant is not allowed to trade with or pay money to alien enemies. If he will foad tho special Gazette of August 19, 1914, ho will find that it consists wholly of a Royal proclamation in accordance .with the accepted usage of international law confirming to all peaceable resident subjects of Germany and Austria peace and protection in tho same manner as if they were subjects, and it includes all rights of contract, otc. • Let Mr. Sievivright read tho Act with regard to dealing with enemies and he will discover that "enemies" mean residents in enemy countries, whatever be their nationality, and whether they be Britons or not. The parallel ho raises is therefore absurd.

Where does Mr. Sievwright find justification for saying that tho professor is heir to title and estate in Germany, or for any of his long statements of incorrect assumptions? Such expectations as the professor had depended upon his remaining in Germany, and under the Act of 1870 they were lost before the war, and whether tho professor was naturalised in New Zealand or not could not have affected the result. It is necessary to reiterate many things because of the recurrence of misstatements like Mr. Sievwriglit's. The professor was taken to England by hia mother, who was British, when he was seven. Between then and his attaining twenty-one years he was only a little over three years out of England, ono year in Germany at school, and two in France and Switzerland at school. All his other, schooling, including his university course, was ill England. When 21. he was offered position and property in Germany on condition that he settled there, but ho refused, preferring to remain in England, where he entered upon his profession. He ceased to look to Germany for anything, and his intercourse or correspondenco with his German relations has been rare and intermittent, while -with his English and Scotch relations he has been in close touch. What excuse can Mr. Sievwright have for penning inaccuracies of which there had been already a plentiful supply? Can he furnish any evidence Whatever in support of his assertions ? Mr. Sievwright makes a very serious charge against Governmental authorities when attempting to show my inconsistency. He complains of the incongruity of interning tho poor and simplo alien, and allowing the rich and cultured to escape. Can he point out any poor and simple who are interned who can safely go, and can he point out any rich or cultured who are at large and whoso liberty is dangerous? I met a wettoff cettler about ten days ago who is interned, and I learned' from him of others. According to his statement there was no occasion to intern him, and he told a plausible tale, but I would certainly not intervene. He was interned under the law; and by tho officers charged, with its administration. If Professor von Zedlitz had beeii interned those who havo tried to protect him from the effects of ex post facto'legislation would not have embarrassed the officers of the Government' by interfering. His letter, which Mr. Sievwright misrepresents, after stating candidly tho doubt as to his duty before the war was an English, one, went on to say that be had ceased to be a German subject, and expressed freely, the obligations he considered ho was under to England, and then stated that he desired that the Government would do with him what they considered, according to their viows of tho position, right. Ho further assured tho Minister _ that if tho Government thought it right in carrying out a policy to intern him, he would make no complaint. The Government was satisfied, the Aliens' Board was satisfied, and everyone is satisfied, so far as I know, that tho professor need not be interned. Mr. Sievwright and others argue that because a number of persons ara interned by tho authorities in consequence of the opinion that their freedom is inconsistent with publio safety, and because the professor cannot be interned, his freedom being consistent with public safety, we must pass a measure (setting aside his agreement and depriving him of his.privileges and giving liko treatment to all others similarly situated.

Then wo are told that because the Government have terminated the engagement of certain people, an independent body must, terminate their engagements. I know none of the dismissed Government servants. I thought I had met one, but he turned out to bo a naturalised German, and ho has taken over a business. I think tho Government policy a barbarous ono, but they acted within tho law as it stood. Besides, there is disqualification imposed upop Civil Servants who arc discharged.l They had Parliament, too, to appeal to, and it is astonishing that they did not make tho appeal if, indeed, any were affected by tho decision.. Besides, if a change of Government took placo and a more enlightened and humane Government, anxious to save us fiom the accusation which can be hurled at us, that wo are emulating in primitive barbarism those we condemn, should come in, no Act of Parliament is in the way of their adopt'ng hotter methods. On the other hand, the Teachers' Bill was pa6sed in order to nullify agreements, to negative a .Royal proclamation, and no public good was urged in support of it. Tho only motive power was that which wo despise in others—Hate. Tho victims of this legislation are not only dismissed—they are also disqualified. Then we have that v<?ry worrst of Governmental, interference, the humiliating and bullying of local administration. Let me, in conclusion, tell "D" that I did not idly make the statement .that the Prime Minister knew all the correspondence from the commencement. I stated it deliberately, and I repeat it. —I am, etc., T. "W. HISLOP.

"TALES OF TWO CITIES."

Sir, —Some weeks ago, in a letter to iny brother, a Now Zealander, and his wife, how living in Bathurst (tho City of the Plains), 145 miles west of Sydney, N.S.W., I gavo as glowing a description as I was ablo of tho crowning glories of 'the city and province of Nelson, its grand climate, extensive and fertile plains, and magnificent scenery. I told them of the miles upon miles of beautiful orchards to be seen everywhere; of the legions of apple trees, whoso branches wore weighed down to the ground with a superabundance of ripe, rosy-cheeked apples. I spoke of tho ships and steamers loaded down to the Plimsoll-mark with cases and sacks of tho luscious fruit that tempted our first) parents in the Garden of Eden. I referred to the far-reaching landscape with its clumps of tall trees and extensive hop gardens, with long avenues of sweet-smelling vines reaching up to and covering tho long wires stretched along the tops of telegraph poles, and also to tho tents and camps of thousands of busy, active liop-pick-ors drawn from all parts of New Zealand. By the last mail I received a counterblast in the shnjio of a letter from my jisterrin-kw, .which .will jperhaxia inta;,

est your many readers who are also interested in the production, consumption, and realisation of tho "good things of this life." She writes: "Just now the district round Bathurst is looking lovely. Wherever ono turns there aro avenues of big trees, huge willows, elms, poplars, and many others. After the fine rains which wo had awhile back, the crops, as well as the grass paddocks, are looking beautiful. The horses and cattle wero everywhere looking so sleek and well-to-do, and thousands of sheep, many of them with little lambs frisking and playing • around, Hooked so contented and happy. It was hard _to realiso that with so much prosperity, peace, and beauty there could be such a great and ghastly war raging on the other side of the world, and threatening us even here. This is a wonderful place for cauliflowers. Not long ago wo were driving into tho country. On tho way we met a young man in charge of a team of seven' large horses atv tached to a- big wagon, which was loaded up high with cauliflowers, very carefully packed and roped. Wo wero sufficiently interested to stop and speak to him. He told us that the load on his wagon weighed 7 tons 15 cwt., and although the season was then beginning to wane, he reckoned there were still 80 tons of cauliflowers' on tho fields from which his load had been cut. He insisted on climbing to the top of tho load and giving us 0110 of his finest flowers, which upon our arrival home wb weighed. It turned the scale at 161b." Truly, Douglas Jarrold was not far wrong when he said of tho land in this part of the world: "If you tickle the land with a' plough it will laugh with an harvest." Some years ago I was talking to a young man from Victoria, and asked him if he had seen any potatoes in a place named Warrnambool. He said: "Potatoes 1 Why, they have to cut them into three or four pieces to got them down tho holds of tho ships."— I am, otc., J. H. COLLIER; Northland, October 16, 1915.

NEW ZEALAND'S POPULATION.

THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE COALITION CABINET. Sir, —Every well-wisher of 'New Zealand, i.e., all who know her, will acclaim tho formation of her first Coalition Cabinet. It would be indeed a real peaco if tho war resulted in tho end of party strife and all in future were to work together for the good of their country. Tho millennium' would appear to bo with us. Now, however, all who are anxious to see the Dominion. develop and advance to her proper place in the forefront of the world's nations should use every endeavour to get tho all-important question of increased population considered without its being treated as tho pi-ay-thing of political intrigue. The war will cease as suddenly as it began, and preparations should be made now to deal with the hosts of applicants who will wish to come out.

Tho employment of the, wounded depends on the migration of boys and girls who aro now filling- the situations which are the right of the victims of tho war. -Employers are, however, out for profit rather than patriotism, and "cannot be expected to pay a wounded man more than 12s. a week if they can get boys and girls to do the work for that money." If numbers of our unwounded defenders are not to be dependent on the rates for their support, an outlet must \be made for them overseas, as a great slump of employment at Homo is expected by tho Cabinet and other students and thinkers. Moreover, those who have led an outdoor life for some months will'not_bo inclined to return to tho conditions of t'heir former indoor work, which in many cases is now being dono by old men and girls. The ample food, exercise, and fresh air havo mado these would-be migrants to New Zealand a far finer sot of men than they previously were. The people of Otago would be proud to see the Argyllshire and Sutherland Highlanders, the London Scottish, and other North British troops, who declaro their wish not to return to the factory, office, or shop. Tho number of other men now aceustoriied to horses who wish to come out is also immense. Organisation for the advance of fares, preliminary training (if required), placing out, and, where possible, subsequent settlement on the land are needed. Canada lias already appointed a Royal Commission at Ottawa to consider these problems. . May New Zealand not fall behind. . . Doubtless Captain Eman Smith lias joined his regiment, but tlw wo A must not thereby languish. New Zealand's exports, railway Teturns, and urban employment ma.v bo all immeasurably increased, and tho pressure of tho war debt reduced by a, wider distribution of its burden, if 100,000 young men are now absorbed on tho vacant lands of tho Dominion.

! FEMALE MIGRATION. The assistance of war widows as home helps, and encouragement for founding branch orphanages for girls in the Dominion instead of sending Homo money to perpetuate tho poverty there, and the granting of rcduced fares to all girls who can bo placed out in situations, irrespective of whether they have been engaged as paid domestics before sailing or not, will induce inoro females to come to the Dominion. The greatest inducement, however, is the presenco of their brothers 'and other relatives and friends, for the femalo follows the male, just as Capital ■ follows Labour. The best memorial to those killed in the war is to help tlioso who survive — I am, etc., gEDG , WIO]L 33 Oriental Street, Poplar, London, E. August 18, 1915.

money no object.

Sir —To any but themselves the majority of tho members of Victoria College Council appear to have lost completely their sense of proportion and if the fitness of tilings.. Hundreds of Wellington women are to-day collecting the small chango of tho passer-by towards this Red Gross Fund to provide medical comforts for our bravo men, wounded and suffering, m defence oi British rights. And here is this curious collection of British men giving £/00 that ho has not earned to an alien enemy subject! Unless tliey are prepared to give at least as large a ram to tho Red Cross (British!) how much, much more careful aro they of aliens than of their own defenders, who make it possible for them to have anything to live at all! If, as Mr C.B. Morison 0 (who seems to know tho innermost workings of Hon- von Zedlitz s mind) says, this German gentleman does not sympathise with Germany wo will now look for some practical demonstration of his sympathy with Britain. With thanks for space m your valuable paper, _I am, « t «-> SLOppY SENTIMBN t.