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FIT MEN OUT OF THE FIRING LINE

Sir, —I see by the papers that somebody at Dunedin was asking tho Hon. ltussell whether young men fit for the front wore being employed by the Defence Department, and receiving promotion here, and that Mr. Russell said he would ask Mr. Allen. Well, Sir, the man in the street, and especially the women, know that it's true; tajk about it, and wonder—wonder when they hear the Minister talking about every 'ounce being needed, hurry up, men, one Reinforcement after another reported short of -."leu, more men needed, etc., etc. yet they allow males to shirk, dresseanp as soldiers. My boy was one of tho first to enlist, gave up his billet, and went into camp at 4s. or os. a day. Another young fellow, who, what lie lacked in pluck or public spirit made up in cuteness, took a job in a certain branch of tho Defence Office. My business taking me there, I see 'this young fellow from time to time) and the irony of the thing is this: . that while these other boys have gone through the firo and got knocked out, and are at it. again, and cannot boast of a stripe, my lord of whom I write boasts (writ large) of several, and, although so cute, is foolish enough to talk it, and let it bo known > that he intends to stick there, and get as much money as be can, and go to England after the war. But, if he is driven into camp) says he, "I'll go as an officer; that will bring mo the same money as I get now, and will take many months more training, and perhaps by that time the war will be over." These are enough facts for Mr. Russell about this one case; Let me finish by saying that there are mothers who know about this, whose blood boils, as the saying is, when they see their own pjor boy bearing honourable wounds and incapacitated, and others who have a boy braving the hardships and dangers of the trenches, while such as this man mentioned remains here, eomfortablc, and reaping a harvest of cash and promotion (for doing what scores of capable yonng wo men could easily be taught to do) at their expense.—l am, etc:, DISGUSTED.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19160919.2.49

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2880, 19 September 1916, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
387

FIT MEN OUT OF THE FIRING LINE Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2880, 19 September 1916, Page 6

FIT MEN OUT OF THE FIRING LINE Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2880, 19 September 1916, Page 6

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