THE SHIRKERS

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 November 1915, Page 2

THE SHIRKERS

TO THE EDITOR

SIR,—I was pleased to see the able leader in your paper of November 18th, touching up the financial shirker,' and I am sure it is appreciated by those who have any sense of feeling left, although I am sorry to say that, in collecting, I have met with one or two whom, I am afraid, have very little patriotic feeling left. I found in collecting in Mairetahi Riding that the people who are least able to give, give freely, while those who are well known to be independent, give at least half what they should or could give, and it is hard work in some instances to get even that. One estimate of the value of our boys at the front was ss, but thank God there are few of that kidney in our midst. I also noticed at the Mock Court, held at Helensville on Friday last, that some in high positions were fined 10s. while others (who could ill afford it) were fined £1 Is. Surely there should be some means of getting at the shirkers, and I hope you will continue to shake them up. Men who collect their rents from the workers every Monday morning, and can well afford to contribute, should do so, and do it well, for, as you point out, where would their property be were it not for our boys at the front. " Tenners " should not be accepted from such people when they could well afford hundreds.—l am, etc., James McLeod. November 22, 1915.