SUCCESS OF THE FORD MISSION.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2648, 20 December 1915, Page 6

SUCCESS OF THE FORD MISSION.

. , p Sir, —There must be rejoicing on "The h Ark of Peace" at tlie decision of the o British Government to invoke the ser- a vices of the Haig. In the wisdom, of fl this step Pacifists and Militarists will 0 surely'agree.—l, am, .etc., , a S. S. BLACKBURNE. $ ' Christchuroh, December 18. ii d POPULATION AND POVERTY. r Sir, —In your issuo of this morning v (18th), under tho lioading "Pressing v Problems," you quote from such men v as Mr. Herbert Samuel, Sir J. Crighton a Browne, also from Uliss- or Mrs. S. T A. Burstall, bemoaners of the falling t birth-rate, infant mortality, and child- t less couples. These well-meaning per- r sons seem to fear that the country will x not possess sufficient "food for powder" to protect them and their property in tha future, from the onomy. They seem to forget chat indiscriminate overpopulation is the direct c-auso of poverty, disease,- crime, degeneration, unemployment, starvation, civil and international war. —1 am, etc., G.S. . HOHENZOLLERN MADNESS. Sir, —Your most interesting and instructive leading article in this morning's Dominion (18th;', recalls tho tale i told us by tlio' wife of an old soldier J servant of ours—lately deceased. "When ] quartered at Aldershot, Queen Victoria | lrequently visited.tlie oamp, bringing ■ her grandson William—the present Kaiser—with her, when the soldiers would remark: 'Hullo! Here Silly Billy again.' ." So that even as a youth tliis hateful Germ-hun Kaiser was regarded aa "a shingle short." —1 am, etc., AN 01<D SOLDIER. CENERAL CONSCRIPTION. Sir, —All thinking people must know there can .be no general fairness in a war. Owing .to disorganisation, some grow fabulously rich for a short time, while others .'giro or lose everything for King and country. We all say we are fighting for the highest attribute of'a : nation's ''honour," but by the attitude .■ of some, one would fain believe it. Some, again (usually those who i are ineligible), say it is glorious to dig for one's country, and what a reward theso boys will get in the next world. Even 1 here Sve do not get universal, support for the trend of present-day thinking ' is for no life boyond the present one. There is no fairness in all single men going while their married brothers re- ' behind and enjoy life. In a great many oases it was only chance, that prevented the single from being married, , but now the}' must bea'r the consequences. Marriage is supposed to bo the best thing that life has to offer, so now tho lucky ones must go on enjoying the best things, while the single ones give up all. -... . Now for conscription: To he successful it must be dealt out Co all alike; ipt only conscription of human life, but of property. If tho everyday nuc.i "it t'he street is prepared to givo up overything in giving .his life, then, the rich should ho prepared to givo up everything, too, to help to fight our common enemies, which have proved to bi scoundrels of tho blackest form. The Government is doing its best in such troublous times hyr genera! taxation, which will produce a fair amount, but, to have any fairness all must be,prepared to give everything. Honour is [ before all things, then let ,us put it first and givo all, and then wo will be , equal to the soldier who lays down his . life for his country.—l am, etc., GENERAL CONSCRIPTION.