Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1919. THE DRUMS OF DOOM.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1919. THE DRUMS OF DOOM.

“The Drums of Doom are beating for Sir Massey and the Ward parties.”—‘“Argus”, special telegram. In Tuesday’s issue of the Grey River Argus the above quotation was the concluding paragraph of a special message to the newspaper from Wellington, reporting the reception given on Sunday night last to- Mr P. C. Webb by a large concourse of people. There seems to bo no doubt in the correspondent’s mind about the size and 'nthusiasm of the gathering, and from this it is inferred that “the drums of doom” are beating a kind of requiem to the political parties the correspondent refers to. The occasion was a. welcome to Mr P. C. Webb who has been released lately from serving a sentence imposed for not complying with the Military Service Act. Mr AA r ebb was a Member of Parliament, and when his turn came under the law of the land, lie elected to go to gaol in preference to doing military service in a time of undoubted crisis. Mr Wc-lib in prewar days was acknowledged by all who had occasion to meet him, as a thoroughgoing man, and lie was held in high esteen in parliamentary circles. Among Labor lie was quite on a pedestal. But wh.cn he refused to take his place in the military defence of the country, he must have gone a long way towards forfeiting the esteem of those who hitherto had appreciated him. Doubtless there were not many of those present at the Wellington gathering, While there was evidently a very large number present it must not he forgotten that it is not difficult to gather a multitude in a city on a Sunday evening. It would he interesting to know how many of those present approved Mr AY ebb’s action in avoiding military service, in standing down while others went forth to defend his liberty in common of course with the rest of the population. Supposing the people of Now Zealand arid of the Empire in general had been of the same resolve -os Mr AAYhb, where would they have Iwen to-day, and what liberties would fhev have iron enjoying? The hundred thousand splendid men who constituted the New "Zealand Army followed “the roll of the drum”,—not the drums of doom—which would have been rolling to-day, had they not heard the roll of another drum—Drake’s Drum — which awoke the spirit of the nation and led it on to deeds no less renowned j on land and sea than forces nccmnplisliInd iln the bravo rlr.ys of old. The | Massey and Ward parties were fused to i win the war, and save the country I from the doom which would befall it,

were men and money and munitions not forthcoming to stem the deadly tide of .battlje which for so long ebbed against us. The Admiral of the United Spates fleet has disclosed the pessimism there was in Great Britain about the outcome of the war in 1918, and in the light of all tliat has been revealed since, the position was desperate to a degree. What would have been the position of the Motherland, if at that time her Dominions had failed her? She could not have held on without the help from overseas, and in that 'service New Zealand was privileged to play I a prominent part. We are honoring our men day by day for their military I service. There is not a public speaker j who will witli-hold from them the highest praise for their splendid work, their i noible sacrifice. But are we honest . in our expressions of regard and esteem 'for the men vtho fought our battles, j if in the next breath, or by our presI ence and patronage, we seek to honour ! and glorify a man who stayed away j f r om the war, preferring incarceration in a gaol to doing liis lawful duty. The men and women of this country if we know anything of human nature must realise to whom they owe their safety. They know that national security lias

come only from sound and sane leadership and a ready co-operation in maintaining law and order for tile common good. Because Mr Massey, and Sir Joseph Ward did their duty in organising Parlifament and enacting laws which secured the integrity of the country and brought victory instead of defeat, their reward cannot he a requiem roll. The commonsense of the people can distinguish between the circumstances which contributed to victory and avoided defeat. The family man, and the adult generally will consider the children of to-day and will rejoice that they have been saved to enjoy a national heritage no less precious than that which our forefathers

handed on to us. If the drums of doom are to be sounded because of the victory won, God help New Zealand. The victory won and the peace and security we enjoy to-day, were achieved by serving and sacrifice. Mr Webb did not serve nor sacrifice, and the fetish made of him is sadly out of keeping with the thoughts that well up as one considers all that we owe to those who did their duty in the time of national crisis.