CARRY ON! CARRY ON!

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 11, 28 January 1918, Page 2

CARRY ON! CARRY ON!

FALSE RUMOURS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND A STIRRING LETTER Rumour is indeed a many-toncued dame, and of late she seems to navo been exercising ljer energies in the direction of making New Zealanders at Home fear that tho anti-conscription-is ts in this country were gaining ground. It Wb even \>oen suggested that "they might yet win the day." As a result o( these rumours' the Christchurch "Press" has received the following communication from Mies Grigs (sister to Mr. John Grigg, of Longbeach), who is an ardent worker for our New Zealand soldiers at Home. The letter is as follows:—_ Sir,—l was reading this morning an articlo in one of the English daily papers which, expressed the opinion that tho anti-conscriptionists in New Zealand were gaining ground and might yet win the day. I was so roused by what I read that I sat down and wroto the enclosed "open letter," with the intention of posting it off before my courago' cooled. But with second thoughts camo the feeling that, after all, I had no right to 6peak for the men, and I hesitated. As it happened I was to take a party of wounded New Zealandors for the N.Z.W.C.A. this afternoon to see tho Priory Church of tho old Christ-church-on-Avon in Hampshire. It struck me that hero was a cliance ot' finding out whether I had the right to send my letter or not. Accordingly, when sight-seeing was done and wo had finished tea, I asked the men—ton in number—if they ivould look upon thomselves for a few minutes as a parliament in miniature, and

decide for mo whether my letter should go or not go. , AVithout a djssentient voice they voted for its being posted. • Many things, however, may happen before it reaches New Zealand, and I fully realise—indeed, I hope—that by that time it may have lost its point.— Yours, etc., MABEL L. GIUGG. Brqckenhurs't, Hants, England, December 4. [Enclosure.] . New Zealanders,—As my father's daughter, I cannot keep silent. As one of'your women in daily touch with your men in the hospitals here, will you listen to me? I-read in the English papers that there are those among you who are. crying out .that we have already done our share in the war. Indeed, we have. Our glorious share—till now. But it is the last lap in the race that counts, for liorso or man. 'Tho last yards perhaps that decide' between victor and vanquished. Are we New Zealanders going to prove ourselves.non-stayers? I cannot believe it. . The men who are hore in hospital are so magnificent, the women so steadfast. Are those at home the faint-hearted?-New. Zealanders,. believe me, for one man in the hospitals, hero who cries out, "We havo done enough," there are ten who know that it would be to our lasting shame, if our hearts failed us now. Listen to the terms of scorn in which they speak of the Russians—those Russians who fought go magnificently, and died by the hundreds of thousands before New Zealand had, placed one man in the field, and by the millions before they grew weary—and you will know how loyal, stern, and steadfast are the hearts of your men who fight, not for New Zealand alone, but for. the freedom of tho world. From the mfdst of the fighting, from the midst of the suffering and anguish, the bestialities arid heroism of this great conflict, your sons and daughters on this side of the world cry out to you, "Let us prove ourselves faithful and steadfast, as we are free!" MABEL L. GRIGG. Although women have not replaced men in trades in New Zealand to the same extent as in Britain, they are found in many unexpected 'situations in the Dominion. On the West Coast a young woman is employed-as •'boots'' in a local hotel, and according to all accounts fills the position in a very satisfactory manner. The young woman, however, does not intend to remain in that position for long, as in her'spare time she is studying shorthand and typewriting, with a view to taking up a business appointment. Sister Crozier, of tlie Auckland Hos.pital, who has been on a visit to her sister, Mrs. A. O. Ox.enham, Woodville, has returned to Auckland.