CORRESPONDENCE

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 July 1915, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

[Our correspondents' opinions are thwr own; the responsibility of editorial ones makes sufficient ballast for the editor's shoulders.] (To the Editor.) NEW ZEALAND'S DUTY. Sir,—On 9th July Lord Kitchener said to the people of Britain "the vital need was more and still more men," and yet 3,000,000 men -were under arms. Io do her share on a population basis New Zealand should have 75,000. She has 25,000 only. At the sumo time (including these) the men not required to produce and export our /primary products number at least 75,000. So that apart I'roni' any question of what is her fair share New Zealand can spare another 50,000 at once.

And yet on 13th July the Minister said: "He hoped there would be no attempt to Interfere Avith the well-thought-out scheme (i.e., lor the prenent reinforcements). He AVouTd lay on the table a memorandum on the whole subject by the Cliiet of the General Stall'.'* In that memorandum it is stated: "AVc have to prepare for a war which may last for three years. Lt would be an everlasting disgrace to New Zealand if before canio"*f"T an end she had to confess that she could not maintain her Expeditionary force in the field. The honor ol putting a large number of units into the field at the one time would be foregotten in the failure to maintain then

There. We must prepare for a long war, and it is essential that we should count the cost, and make sure that our resources of men are organised >n such a manner as to last to the finish before peace has been declared/' ■Sir, this is rank heresy, and notwithstanding the great respect the country has for its author in his military capacity, and not withstanding that it was put -forward try the Mill's tcr, it must be utterly repudiated by the country. Kitchener wants men. What on earth does it matter whether we can keep up our separate unit or not! 1 Eur the sake of that unit we are asked to reln.su to send men. The plain fact is that the country is getting no lead on the -matter, and that it we, the people, do not instantly bestir ourselves wo shall go down .u history with an everlasting disgrace mpon our name. We have not provided more than one man for Mritain's three; we have not shared or offered to share Clio extra cost of the war over and above men; and now when the Mother Country is making an unrestricted call on her own sons we are asked to hang back. The memorandum was obviously prepared weeks ago, and is out of date on an absolutely vital point. It states

''•'the Imperial Government up to the present has requested that all men should take rifles with them from New Zealand." Vet weeks ago "a reply came "v., from England) that if New Zealand sent the men to England they would arm then with rifles" (the Minister on Ist July). Sow Zealand refused. "The reason for that was tlwt TT we wore to send men to tram in England they would receive Imperial rates of pay and Imperial persions. and there would be a serious conflict'* between the -New Zealand and British sections." If the British authorities are satisfied to receive, the men and arm then, what validity is there hi tho objection?

The plain fact stands out that Kitchener has altered to arm the men wo send and we won't send them.

How many men Ims France put n the lick!? Every available man. lia 3 slio held her men back' trom arming - y that they can become reinForcenienti in two years There would be no

France to-day if K he had adopted any such folly. And if we do we may become a German colony Let the generals on the spot arrange the reinforcements when we have supplied the armed men. If need bo abandon our distinctive New Zealand unit. But for Cod's sake, citizens of New Zealand, sweep aside the present tangle anu insTs't that New Zealand shall press on % send forward in tlio next sfx mouths at least 50,000 men—l am, etc.,

S. A. ATKINSON,

STlli July, 1915