ABOUT "MORALE"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 133, 22 February 1918, Page 6

ABOUT "MORALE"

a REASONS AGAINST ANTI-CON-•SCRIPTIONIST. "In what way docs this little election in AYcllington North affect the winning of the war?" said Mr. J. Hutche.son at the meeting at Kelburn iast night. "One flippant writer has said that the war will be won or lost just the same, and the existence of New Zealand will not make a particle of difference. Now, supposing every part of the British Empire were to assume that attitude at this supreme moment in the history of the Britisli people and our Allies. We are very deeply concerned in this with the British people, and what they need now more than men, more tlian guns, and munitions, mare than phips, even more than food, is morale, nerve, and courage, and steadfast fortitude. (Hear, hear.) ... lam told hy the man in tho street: What doe« a single member matter, any way? Why should we not punish the Government for its sijis of omission andx commission, and its social slights and affronts?' This is to be at the risk even of letting in a man wliose professed and avowed confession of faith is that we should make a disgraceful peace by nefotintion! . . .

You have, read mucli in the military communiciues about the morale of the troops—which means in eiTent belief in themselves, that mala"- one man equal tn fpii, because he h»hVves in himself and his comrades, ind in the .'hrhteousness of his pause. A ffalitinjr man may receive an inspiration 'from the moral" of: the people behind him. T[e is strengthened hv the k-imrWlTe that we ean he relied otoii." Mr. lTuteheson urced that we would hetrav war wearitipss by electing an anti-nonserintinnist, this vou'cl be bad news to "o from j\ T »iv Zealand to oik troops in Enpl.ind. wh"re the neonl" had eauso to be a little faint-hearted.