TO ARMS! TO ARMS! OH CITIZENS!

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2948, 7 December 1916, Page 8

TO ARMS! TO ARMS! OH CITIZENS!

Sir—ln traversing New Zealand I find an increasing feeling that our Government is not doing what it should.' and to-daj s gapers. s_eem to reflect the same feeling in England. It is too much like Nero fiddling while Rome is burning. Can the outlook be more serious; is it to our honour that Rumania is being crushed as was Serbia a year ago; that Greece is playing the tool with us, and Spain becoming proGerman; that New South Wales turned down conscription, and that it takes such a mighty amount of officialdom to enrol a few hundred men in Now Zealand? I find that men who can bo east spared are going, while many are bemg left behind who are of less value to the country. Being often on the roads I often meet dozens and' dozens of motor-cars going to races, and the trains packed to overflowing, filled with men who appear to be able to spend timo and money in pleasure when Ine ? , ft 'h° have gone are enduring the awful hardshjps of terriblo war. I see hotels doing a greater trade than ever, picture theatres packed,' and fresh buildings for tho same purpose being erected, and wo have the Hon. •Mr. Myers and the Hon. A. L. Herdman preaching economy and putting a veto on policemen enlisting, when it has been proved to tho satisfaction of all, but those interested, in all countries that tho drink habits of the people are the source of alnjpst all tho troubles, and to 6top this is to effect true economy, so that reasonable persons are sick to death at the arrant humbug of some preaching economy when they could do it if they pleased. It is like patching np small holes round the rim of abuckot which tho water is never likely to reach bccause tho bottom is out, and the mender does not see it.

Sir, we need to have New Zealand declared nnder martial law,, and every effort put forth to organise every man, woman, and child to do something real to win the war./ I would have every man capable of .bearing arms oither drilling or being drilled or being engaged ill something useful, aud that instead of persons getting very much higher, Iwages than fever because so many have goiie to the war and "higher prices than ever obtained for produce, etc., that the same wages be paid as the men wjio have gone to the war are getting. Those who stay in New Zealand should reallj economise in food and olothing, so' that more could be sent to those who are starving. lam informed that every pint of beer has cost aa much grain to produce as would make a small loaf of bread, so that of all wasteful persons the brewers and beer drinkers give an unenviable lead, the abolition of all alcoholic drinks (aud many other kinds as well) would free monoy, food, and labour for that which would tend towards bringing the' war nearer to an end. Of course, at the bottom of all is the prevalent ungodliness which makes for selfishness, greed, aud vice, and has made God send this war for the chastisement of professing Christian nations. May God in His mercy raise able, powerful leaders to lead us.-*-1 am, etc., FRED: H. SPENCER.