LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2659, 3 January 1916, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

"SOLDIERS ALL." Sir, —A pity the words "conscript," "shirker," and "slacker" were ever indented, to be used by many thoughtless persons as instruments of torture, pinj prick, sword-thrusts, at the manhood of - the colony and Empire; another form r of the silly white feather business, which ■ may be a play game for kids, hut ' should certainly not enter the thoughts of women and men who are fighting together for their freedom. Why all this writing to the press, letters from X.Y. r.nd A.li. giving their views on what • tho other man should do? Can their t-ii'usions have any good effect ? Certainly not; oi:l,v stabs ill the dark, and a leader to that estrangement which at all times should be our cartful duty to avoid. Let us not foster a spirit of 1 strife amongst ourselves; rather 0110 I of unity and accord. Wo have given our word t-o fight t-o 1 the last man and penny; in unity lies our strength, the only means by which we are t-o succeed. A divided house must fall, so lot us one and all rally round tho common standard for life anil liberty. 1 In time 3of adversity we ' will bo united; in times of prosperity we will live in a fool's paradise, in a kingdom of self, with 110 unity. But this order ; of things is changing. 'Hie public mind is realising that t-lio life- of our nation is in peril,- and like the sowing, flowering, and harvest, so will the voice of .our people bear good fruit in due season, and a rich harvest be gathered in a united nation going forth to war as 0110 man, to conquer. The spirit of unity, bonds of friendship, loyalty to one another, universal support to our Empire, are the principles for which we are all working, and must come. There is a time in the affairs of man, which, taken at the .flood, leads 011 to victory. That time is coming, is near at hand, and will be taken by our people, for it is impossible to believe that an Empire, tho greatest the world lias known, will not rise to a man to save our countries, women,\ and little ones from destruction. What better or fairer law could we all conform to, / than on the outbreak of war every mail in such country bo proclaimed a soldier —a question of either fight, work,. or pay—for if a country is worth living in or worth holding for. thoso who come after us, then surely it is tho duty of every inhabitant of that country to do something to help defend and protect his home. Our Empire is now' approaching tho time when t'he voice of the people must sound tho call, and let us hope tho sound will bo a great and glorious call, "To arms, soldiers all," not as conscripts or shirkers, but as loyal soldiers conscious of our Empire's needs. The voice of our people lias given our National Government power to levy and obtain such moneys as are required to carry 011 our part in tho war, also for the relief of sick and wounded: and now it behoves our people to seriously consider and support that oft-repeated cry from our brave sons on Gallipoli, "More liolp, more help; what are our mates doing at home?" ' 1 The National R-eglster is now a thing of tlio past. Tt served its purpose in giving tho actua] number of males available. There its finotions ended.. Beiiig of a private and confidential nature, it should be treated as such, and can servo 110 further good ends. Rally round the dear old Union Jack, lot us go forth as men, and banish such words as conscrint, shirker, and slacker from our thoughts and tho press.—l am, etc., P. A. M'HARDY. Reaulieu, Palmerston North. PRACTICAL. WORK AND ORGANISATION. Sir, —I was pleased to see Mrs. E. H. Suisted J s letter 111 yours of December 19, and am glad to hear that they are doing such good work. lam only sorry there are not more' workers helping. When I suggested a central depot, of, course I did not mean that peoplo. in Wanganui or distant places should have its work given out in Wellington, but I did for Avellington, and that a central body should be advised by tho authorities who require the garments as to what tliey want. The different societies then could work together under the instructions of. tho' central body, so as not to ' duplicate the different garments, also that when garments were complete- they should be returned to central depot to be packed and forwarded to where required. Tiis, I think, would save both- time and trouble in every way. I would have the different societies give the central body what they think would bo their average output,' and elas§ of garment they could best produce. You will see that each would still retain their own individual control, while working in union with the central. I am informed 011 good authority, that it is most difficult to got at the requirements at the front, and that they have to depend mostly on private sources. I think this is far from right, and should not be allowed. I am afraid that my remarks in mine of December 16 re St. John Ambulance, Belcher's Buildings, might bo taken to refer to the St. John's, but it'was not so, as at that time I did not know that there was a central room wliero work was carried on, but I received a visit from a lady who superintends same, who informed mo that she had never heard of mj; offer to cut until my letter appeared in your paper. On learning that my offer still held good, I was invited to call at the workroom, which I did, and was pleased to find work in full swing. I was treated with the greatest courtesy, and asked 1 for advice as regards patterns and mode of cutting, Mrs. Preston, who j superintends, accepted my services, and i I have been doing : what I could, to 1 help. I cannot offer to undertake any 1 more cutting, but would be glad to ex- 1 amino and advise as to correcting, cut- 1 ting patterns, and mode of getting the '• most out of littlo material. '

I am .sorry to say I am considerably surprised at the few ■ working women who could do such a lot, but don't come forward to do anything. They will help at carnivals, where they can dress up, but good, solid work does not seem to bo in their way. I should be glad to hear that a good number had come forward to help the St. John Ambulance, situate Nathan's Buildings. 1 I am assured they will be welcome. With regard to any further action re central committee, 110 date seems to have been fixed; it is still in the future; how far 110 talk even.—Thanking von. I am, etc., J. MORRISON. December 31.