THE SECOND DIVISION

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

THE SECOND DIVISION

Sir,—Regarding the action of the Second Division League at. Chrietchnrch. your article of April Si) expresses, 1 feel sure, t'lio opinions of the majority of Second Division reservists in the Dominion, but it is to be admitted, however, thats there is gravo unrest amongst these Second Division reservists, and such unrest is mainly brought about by the want of firmness on (ho part of the Government in dealing with cases of the Webb type. Two yea re tree-planting amongst congenial'surroundings is surely bettor than going forward to fight in Flanders with so ninny chances of leaving ono's wife and family (0 face tho world, sustained only by the miserable pension provided by the Government. Personally, I think, 'however, that Webb should have been shot or forced to go to the front —either fate would do much good as an example to men of his type. Then, again, it has been stated that there are BROO sine die cases of the First Division. It seems incredible that there should be such n large number of men absolutely indispensable for marrying on the work of this country. Mr. Okey mentioned in Parliament the case of the Government Insurance agent at New Plymouth, who was appealed for by tho Government Insurance Department, and exemption obtained. Then we have the cases of the wealth/s squatters' sons, the

Lnidlaw case at Auckland, and the professors, of the Otago University. When it is known that such exemptions are given, can anyono wonder why Second Division men claim that it is not fair to force .married men into camp frhilsfc fit. First Division men are allowed to remain in New Zealand? The Government sliould insist that in no case shall total exemption be given to fit men, married or single, but time leave only be given, and that not to exceed six months, with no extensions. For, after all, it is the war we have to win, and what use is wealth, position, or anything else if that is not done?' But. the winning of the war should surely b« accomplished by equality of sacrifice, which is not now being obtained by the present methods in force.—! am, etc., SECOND RESERVIST. [The single men sine die cases number between 6000 and 7000, and are now being much more strictly "combed out" than lieretofore, and we atrreo with our correspondent that still more could be (lone in this direction. As to the punishment of shirkers, the least that should be done is to disfranchise them and deprive them of the ordinary privileges of citizenship.]