THE MAN WITH THE EMPTY SLEEVE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1917, Page 1

THE MAN WITH THE EMPTY SLEEVE

America, is now confronting, in connection with this wav, much iho same dilUcid!ies that we in New Zealand have to Grapple with ; and it mnv be possible tor us to draw at once instruction, encouragement, and inspiration from the way in which the best elements in the Dinted States are facing up to those problems. .Majority Leader Kitcliin (chairman of the House Wavs and Means Committee) declares, for example,, that “a war for democracy should be paid for by a. democratic tax.” And, as showing what he means by this, he slates, “ I want the man who comes home with an empty sleeve to feel that the Congress who sent him away has not favoured the profit-taker who stayed at home.”

York “ Public.” one of the most enlightened journals of fundamental democracy in the States. “ must he hammered into Congress until the members sense it. War is a sacrifice. Lives are given. Cripples are made. Property is destroyed. l’he whole j country is made poorer. JTow, then, in a democracy where the burdens are shared by all can some enrich themselves by war? No one will contend that the men at the front are enriching themselves, Nor will any argue that the slight advance in wages as compared with the high cost of living will make labour better oil'. Put people with great incomes, and linns making big profits, will be richer at, the conclusion of the war. This must not be. These surplus incomes and these excess profits should go to defray the cost of the war. This is a war for democracy. The burden must be borne by all.” These utterances are well worth pondering over, especially just now, when our New Zealand Parliament, in view of the calling-up of the Second Division, is just about to make ampler provision for “ the 1111111 who comes home with -an empty sleeve,” for those near and dear to him, and for the-dear ones, also, ol those who, alas! come home again no more. The people of New Zealand, we are convinced, desire I hat not only adequate but generous provision shall ho made for all of these; and it is for Parliament and for the National Government to see to it that they do not.-out of too tender regard for surplus incomes and excess profits, deal in niggardly fashion with iho just claims of our soldiers and their dependents.