"ROUND UP THE SINGLE SHIRKERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 193, 4 May 1918, Page 8

"ROUND UP THE SINGLE SHIRKERS

Kir,—The cruel war has brought a great dual of sorrow to many, many homes in New Zealand. During the past week the seriousness of the war has coma home to hundreds of young married people, Then the married men had to leave their dear wives and little children, likewise their cosy homes, to spend the winter months :n the Trentham and Fea-thorston Camps. If the thousands of single eligible fit men who have l>een successful in hoodwinking tho .Defence authorities, military boards, and medical men had played the game there would have been no need at present to call upon married men and the youths who are now reaching the age of twenty to go and save the thousands of single eligible slackers who are laughing up their sleeves' because they are left to enjoy their freedom. It is a thousand pities the shirkers could not be located and put in their place. Hundreds of them are well known to their friends, who they come in touch with every day. That being so, it is up to all right-thinking people to treat the single eligible men who will <jtand by and see young married men and youths going to light for their freedom with scorn and contempt. A single eligible fit man who shirks his duty should be disfranchised and refused employment in any walk of life. The slackers have enjoyed three years and nine months' freedom, while fully one hundred thousand of our best men have played the game in the 'interest of tho Empire. Yet never in the history of tho war have men been more urgently wanted than at the present time. That being so, sir, I claim that single eligibla fit men should be no longer tolerated. Many of them aro to be seen pretending lameness, carrying walking-sticks, others with their arms m sling 6, and affecting other ailments that were practically unknown to them until this war started. The remarks in this letter only apply to tho shirkers.—l nm, sir., THE FATHEK OF A MAIN BOD\' SOLDIER. Lower Hutt. May 3.