NEARLY THREE YEARS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3137, 16 July 1917, Page 5

NEARLY THREE YEARS OF WAR

'I , WE HAVE NOT ORGANISED YET"

(To the Editor.)

'i Sir,—The National Government lias oeea given a free hand by tho people. It has behind it all the resources of the country, men and money. It has the support of all classes and parties. Never ihas a Government had such a chance of "making good." In a fevr days wo shall lave been at war for threo years. But ■what <loe3 tho Government's representative in the Upper Houso tell us?: "Wo havo not organised yet." For what purpose then havo tho members of tho Government been cleoted by the people? For what purpose have they teen appointed to the high and responsible offices of trustees for tho country? \For whet do they draw their salaries as {Ministers of the Crown, if not to organise the country in this great war, in which the freedom, nay, the very existence, of the British 13inpiro is involved? And yet,'despite this confession, Ministers seem surprised that widespread dissatisfaction is expressed with them, that ■there are demands for a genoral ejection at an early date, and that a discussion has arisen as to whether we should not stop sending men and dovote our attention to produce food and clothing. Ministers aro indignant that suoh a suggestion has been made. But whoso fault is it that wo are asked to face the question? Not the fault of tho people of New Zealand, who yield to none in patriotism; not the fault of tho civilians who offered to liolp the Government in those ■branches of organisation in which they were experts, and who were for the most part enubbed for their pains. Not the fault of the patriotio bodies, who are doing splendid work in collecting funds and providing.for the needs of the solIdiers and their dopendants, and shouldering a great part of the burden that the State as a whole should bo bearing. (Think of the waste of man power and woman power in collecting funds that should be cominp in automatically to the Income Tax .Department.) Not tho fault of Labour, whose response, despite rts dissatisfaction with the provision taade for tho soldier and his family, and save a small section of extreme anticonscriptionists, has been whole-hearted. Not the fault of the yeoman farmer, who leaves his farm to take carq of itself and goes into camp uncomplainingly. Not tho fault of tho dootors and lawyers, whose ranks aro almost depleted of men of military age. Not the fault of the women, ready to respond to every call, but 'the fault of Caoinot itself, which has drifted along, never looking ahead, never shoving any foresight, and whose Jiolicy has been "'Wait and see."

Had the Cabinet two years ago done Svhat the man in the street saw was necessary, and urged the Government to ilo, we should not be to-day having this ■deplorable contest between men. and food, giving tho world the idea that New Zealand, who sprang to arms with such enthusiasm at the outbreak of the war, is wearying of tho struggle. Hoi Wβ should have had every man and .woman assigned to his or her proper task, the whole community taxed so that the soldier and his depoudants were properly provided for bj the State, each Reinforcement leaving at its due date, and at its full strength, the soldiers' happy in the knowledge that their dear ones need 'have no fear for the future, we should not be not be diminishing but increasing our production, or- food. But "we have/not organised yet." Nearly two years ago the, Prime 11 inister was urgejl to include women in the National Register. He refused. A year ago he was again nrged to make provision for the organisation and training of women, with a. view to their taking the places of men. Again he ohirkea ■the responsibility. It is true that the Women's National Reserve, with, the limited resources at their disposal, strove inobly to undertake the task lhat tho government had neglected. But what is wanted is not an amateur voluntary arrangement, but a proper regi6tor of .women, a regular course of training and allotment of suitable work. On all tho golf links of New Zealand there are numerous sturdy young women who, if they were in England, would havo been '.trained to farm work or munition-making ■or the like. They alone, could release a number of men tor the front. Captain "Walker, military representative of the ■Defence Department, points out that the women of New Zealand should realise that they must do more of the work ordinarily undertaken by men. perhaps as he is in uniform he will bo listened to, and not have the samo fate as those civilians who made the same representations to the Prime Minister nearly two years ago, and were severely snubbed. But you cannot extemporizo workere, they must bo trained. So also with the older and unfit men. How many Civil Servants still perfectly fit for work has the Government retired, while tho CcmJnissionere call upon t'he old "dug-outs" who have retired years before to volunteer? ' No doubt Ministers will 6ay the law compels the retirement. Well, then, why not havo the foresight to niter it? Jl'ho wTiole nation should be trganised. Not a man or a woman should be idle.. But "wo have not organised yet." Then, in the nanu of all that the Empire, stands for, in the name of those who havo died for us, get ito work and do it now, or mako way for men who will! 'What does the man in the streot ieel about it? He reads discussions in Parliament about humbugs and homilies, while Rome is burning! He feels that he has given the Government all .his confidence, and it keeps him in tho dark. It sets np a National Efficiency Board from which he hopeg great things, and then it keeps tho reports of the board secret, declaring that, the Government, not the board, shall govern. But, says tho man in the etreet with 6omo reason, "If, after three years of war, you have 'not organised yet. don't you think it .would be better that the National Efficiency Board should govern?" Ho eays further: "You gentlemen are not the masters but the servants and trustees of the country; you are not tho proprietors of the Departments of the State, and I resent such remarks as (that of tho llinistor of Defence, 'You lecve my officers alone.' , " "Are they not," soys tho man. in. the street, "the officers of every one of us? Do we not pay for them, and is not tho first dnty of tho Minister of l)efonce not to screen inefficients but to get rid of them?" Further, he says, "I cannot understand, your attitude on the question of provision for soldiers and their dependants. Here, where you should bo generous, you ara miserly. Every centession—no, not concession, surely—every

step in advance towards a more equitable provision; pensions an of right, „ financial assistance to soldiers with oblicatione, increase of pensions, and separation allowances, has beon wrung from yon by the pressure of public opinion." But this whole question of pensions ■opens up a Urger question as to the duty of the community to the Er'dier and his family. With your permission I will on a future occasion endeavour to point out why in this matter tho Principle to- bo applied should be not hat or conscription of wealth, if by that is meant confiscation of capital, !>ut the

principle of gcneriil average. And I propose, with your permission, to sketch in a later letter a constructive policy for the Government, when it does organise, In tho same manner as in my letter to you of May 8 last year.—l am, etc., H. F. VON HA A ST.

The New Zealand Club luncheon to the National Government leaders, the AV. T. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, will tako place in tho Town Hall Concert Chamber at 1 o'clock to-day. On this occasion non-members as well us fho members of the club will bo able to attend tho function.

For Nasal Catarrh. NAZOL acts like a charm. Penetrating and germ-killing —afforxls quick relief. No cord is NAZOLfroof. Sixty doses Is. Cd. Use tho Nazol nhalei.—A&vt.

The Luke of Northumberland, at tho County Council meeting at Newcastle, suggested an amendment, which, was carried, to a resolution regarding the employment of prisoners of war on highways. Tho Dukes suggestion was they should be employed in quarries, and ho added, "I don't think those Gorman chaps should be wandering about our hiijlnrars." Eliah Deriann, an archpriest who is a Hungarian subject of Rumanian rner, has been sentenced to one- year's imprisonment on a charge of inciting the Rumanian subjects of Hungary to hatred against the Hungarian Government,