THE NEED FOR NATIONAL SEPVICE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2615, 10 November 1915, Page 6

THE NEED FOR NATIONAL SEPVICE.

t Sir, The question of compulsory service, to my mind, merits more attention rrom the Government than it is receivesfar as one can judge. What action is to bo taken now that the national service papers have been returned? Will those who express themselves as willing to serve be taken, and those who answer "No" be left, or what method is to be adopted? I know of two cases. One, a widow woman living oil a small dairy farm, has two boys, one at the front and the other says he must go. and presumably' will answer "\es," though Jiis mother is mJirm and unable to run the farm by herself. In the other case, a man haa> four sous, none of them at the front, and he is using all his influence to prevent fchom going. Presumably they will have answered "No." What will be the action of the authorities in these two cases ?

AAe have three classes-of men. First, the fiery spiirts who have mostly gone; secondly, the thinkers who are new going from a sense of duty; and, thirdly, tho shirkers, who will not go unless they are maao t-o. The last lot aro not necessarily frightened to go, tut they are a selfish, idle lot who don't caro tuppence about anything hut their own pleasures. Nevertheless, discipline would make soldiers of most of tfcem, and probably improve them both pliysically and morally. Now, ivhy should not these men bo taken at once and dovetailed ai'Ci.gst the willing ones? In this manner they would be easily dealt with, w'Jiilst if left till tlio others have gone and dealt with in a body they would probably prove an insubordinate, -useless lot, wiio would bo moro nuisance than tiU&y fire worth. Again, the country is being rapidly depleted of its best men. Are we to depend on yluß wastage being mode good by tho progeny of the vicious, idle lot who will bo left behind?

_ I think there is plenty of evidence to snow that the country as a whole desires conscription. Further, the principle of compulsory service has already been confirmed by the Dominion. It is true that this referred only to tie defence of the country, but surely we must throw the whole of our energies into tie defence of our rights and liberty from the invasion of the Huns, who, if tl ey were successful—which God forbid— would claim these islands as tho first fruits of their victory. I should like to seo these points receiving moro attention; than appears to bo given them at present.—l am, etc., R. S. ABRAHAM. Palmerston North, November 8, 1915.