Correspondence

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 7 January 1916, Page 3

Correspondence

WHILE it is our endeavour to give correspondents every facility for the free expression of their opinion, it should be borne in mind that the views expressed do not, necessarily, reflect the opinions of the Editor.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —After reading the letter signed Pro Bono Publico in your last issue, I made inquiries from several who attended the meeting under review, as to whether your report supplemented by the aforementioned letter, or my letter had given the correct version of the several points raised. As a result of these inquiries I may safely say that I was absolutely correct, so there is no need to go over these same details again.

I wish to assure your correspondent that I have no desire to throw dust into his or anyone else’s eyes, and the fact of his controversy ensuing proves that the motion was not dropped ; also the offer to take it up was held out to those who considered the resolution was not strong enough as well as those who held your correspondent’s opinions.

He is very generous in his suggestions as to what the Government should do, by prohibiting meetings or gagging ideas of which he does not approve and further on tells those who hold these views to take their “ hook,” although he must know that the Government or rather the Cabinet have decreed that these men shall not be permiited to leave the Dominion. The usual sneers are indulged in that any man who refuses to blindly serve, is solely actuated by motives of cowardice, but in oommon fairness to Mr Thorn he might have stated that he (the lecturer), went through the South African war as a member of the third N.Z. Contingent.

Your correspondent vaguely attempts to draw a gloomy picture as a result of the shirkers becoming the fathers of future generations; and by some curious reasoning we are given to understand this would be avoided if compulsion were adopted. If the military authorities had more men to choose from, they would certainly select the best, without giving any thought whatever to future generations. Again Mr Lloyd George recently stated that no matter if methods of compulsion were adopted, there would always be ample scope for voluntary services ; so your correspondent must admit we have to lose our best manhood whichever method prevails. According to Lord Loreburn speaking in the House of Lords some little time ago, the war has has already cost some 25 millions in killed and wounded, and at the same time we are given the following remarkable utterance —

“ If collective common sense does not soon prevail amongst the rules of Europe, that Continent would, in the near future be inhabited by old men, women and children, along with the maimed and the rejects of the war that was devasting her.” That condition will not only apply to Europe, but will include Australasia, and a good sprinkling of the other three continents also. When the white races have committed fratricide what becomes of the Yellow Peril ? We must also remember that Britian alone is piling up debt to the tune of some £5,000,000 per day; and according to Sir. Joseph Ward our bill is assessed at £500,000 per month with every prospect of its increasing. This will be a fine legacy to hand on to future generations, especially when the stock has been impoverished by the mad struggle that is now going on. On these grounds alone, I contend that nationalisation of wealth is imperative, but the unscrupulous exploitation of the necessaries of life, being indulged in as a result of the war situation make it doubly so. Should this be done I venture to say there will be no shortage of volunteers, as we should all be then convinced that we were fighting for progress and not for markets for the privileged few. “ Pro Bono Publico ’’ does not give any reasons to prove that compulsion will be beneficial, he approves of it, so his logic and conception of liberty is that everyone else must accept it without argument, or be branded as cowards or traitors. We also have highly placed men wishing for the opportunity to drive the shirkers into the trenches with whips, as we are sometimes told the Germans are driven, so it seems to me, if these men have their way, we are not fighting to crush militarism, but rather to fasten it upon ourselves. To those who hold these views of compulsion I would refer them to Lord Sydenham’s comparison of the present position, with the state of affairs obtaining in 1797, when we were struggling against militarism, with the French under Napoleon. One of the most disquieting facts at that time we are told, was the acute internal disconsion

prevailing; the Bank of England ceased cash payments (they did that at the commencement of this war), and to crown all, mutinies broke out in the fleets at Spithead and theNore, These I contend were the direct fruits of the high handed methods existing, and the mutinies certainly were the results of discipline in dulged in by men similar in nature to those who now wish they held the whip, coupled with the facts that part of the crews had been compelled to serve by press gang methods. I would therefore ask those who considor compulsion means victory, to ponder a little, for without a doubt the side that causes acute internal dissension at the present time, suffers defeat. Thanking you in cnticipation. I am, etc. J, MELLING.