LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 203, 16 May 1918, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

Sir—"What is this so-called Second Division?" asked an excited man ueaTed at the dininjr-tablo of a. well-known local hotel. "I'll tell you just what it is, said a stalwart officer in uniform. It s the biggest lot oi 'hold-bucks in the Dominion." A truer sentiment than this never found expression, for it exactly describes this conglomeration of musli-" room patriots. The Dominion to-day records tho proceedings at their last night's meeting 111 the Masonic Hall, and a moro , selfish and dipmditablo programme was never pa.raded itt a public meeting. Apparently, the majority of these' leather-bed heroesare exhausting every device to avoid serving their country and defending their homes. Now they are shouting for ' the onlling in of all exemptions'' and all single men—anything and everything to eavo themselves , ." Their anxiety for tho repatriation of returned soldiers is of even more mushroom growth than "their loyal organisation to support- the Government," for it took them over two years to turn ;i thought to it at all. Not, in fad, till tho very conscription they shouted for ' to enforce boye and lads of 18 to 20 into camp and military training was extended to themselves did they raieo (heir little■finger either in protest or for "proper provision" or "repatriation." Two years ago or more hundreds of married men volunteered, went to the front, and canio back wounded, maimed, and unnoticed. So they might for ah these "patriots" cared or thought. During the same period thousands of younjf lads of 20 have gone, and thousands have died. _Tho gratitude for this heroism, this nomlity of sacriheo, never found expression in the ranks of this composite community till they, were called upon to do likewise. Then arose a hue and cry tor "proper provision" for wives ami families, a domestic felicity that never existed in pre-war times. Neither was an "irreducible minimum" either dreamt or heard of. Sweet content with whatsoever they had everywhere, prevailed; in fact, the very existence of tnese malcontents was unknown, certainly undisturbed. Whilst tho half-grown _ youths were available to do the fighting for them they, of their "manhood," were content to line the footpaths and shout their wild hurrahs and "good luck to you, boys," to tho young lads marching to the transports. As a woman said to me to-day, "It made her blood boil to 6ce the great louts cheering the lads, and banging back themselves." So it makes mine boii to read the records of these meetings, for 1 know many of theso "men." Yes, many' of them voiced "tiieir approval" at the imprisonment of little lads of 14 to 16 who were gaoled for their opposition to military training —and why? Because theso very men. were themselves then eafe and exempt. Now they petition for the release of tlios* of their party who are imprisoned for the very thing they condemned the boys for doing, on the grounds of "severity and unfairness"—unfairness and severity, ugh! ■• ■ . ■ "Provision for wjves and families! What a sham! What a pretence! AVhy i haven't tuey insured their lives, Joined, I clubs, or the thousand and one instatuI tions whioh exist, for this purpose?. No, Sir, too many of theso peon'* prefer to go to the races, gamble, and bet. Get into debt, and waste their money on. "sport, , - , , 1 hope, Sir, the Government will rightly appraise these "heroes," and send , them to do their duty, for they have a~• i greater stake in the Enipiro than the poor young lads who have gone in their stead. The test of "their muttle" ;a found in their paltry excuses; but it is time to cry enough. I hopo it will be done.—l am, etc., • A FATHER OF TWO BOYS AT THE FRONT.