OUR PART IN THE STRUGGLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 169, 6 April 1918, Page 7

OUR PART IN THE STRUGGLE

Sir,—Your leader of even date will be welcomed by all readers ns far as its criticism of the weakness and variation of the Government in dealing with important questions is concerned. It is especially welcome at tliis moment whon 1 the question of increasing our forces at the front is being taken into consideration by the Cabinet, find, may possibly act as a stimulus to the authorities to do their duty b;s the largo numbers who havo so far evaded their responsibilities. Tho people of New Zealand are well aware that the Military Service Act has not been administered with firmness and impartiality. You sny: "We ore refraining from a whole range of activitios and economies that would strengthen our position as a notion, and add - to our power to carry on tho struggle." It, is well said; but the people niunt not forget that the Govornment is the chief culprit in the ruinous waste • of publio funds in its maladministration of the Defence Department. One instance only is necessary for an example. In one of tho last three ships which returned the other day there came back to New Zealand 410 men who were turned q,?V' n as unfit for service. "Ins has cost the country £500 per man, not £350, as many people think, viz., £21)5,000. Multiply this by tho total rjrior to that date, and tho number still to come, and we will have somo knowledgo of the activities and extravagance which is weakening our position as a nation and reducing our power to carry on the struggle. With regard to the increase of our forces at the front, suggested by the Press, and referred to in a hysterical circular letter to the British Dominions by Mr. Lloyd George. Do you think 1 this moment warrants the following statement by your "The slackness ! and indifference that undoubtedly pre-' vail amongst a large section of the i public are not.palliated, but are made more shameful by the fact that the. Dominion has on some grounds a proud ! record in the war," Sir, I consider, and the people will he with me, in sny,mg most emphatically that you have up justification whatever in so gratuitously insulting the community. Has tho Cabinet, has Parliament, or the people so far had an opportunity of considering the British Prime Minister's message? Has our Prime Minister's cablegram of March 30 to His Majesty's Government (a reply to which appears in your is;,ue of even date) been published for New Zealand's information? Why, therefore, should you reflect on the loyalty of New Zealand when the matter was already under consideration by tho Government? The people of New Zealand are silent because they are not allowed to speak, and they are kept in ignorance. AYliy does the Government not take them niio :ts confidence? With reference to the dispatch of further troops,, the Minister of Defence is reported to have said in Ohristchureh on April 2: "If New Zealand maintains its division at' the i front intact to the end of the war it will have done its duty to the full. I have always said that,' and Mr. Llovd George knows it." Let Sir Jame? Allen stand by that statement, and 'r will be doing his duty' to New Zealand and to the Empire.—l am, etc , ; „ n.z. April o.