CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1751, 10 November 1917, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor)

Dear Mr Editor.—After reading the caustic and unsympathetic criticisms of your correspondents, "Family Man,” “Four-in-Hand,” and "Uncle Simon,” I have come to the opinion that it is useless to "cast pearls before sAvine.” I didn’t offer any gratuitous insults to married men with families in asking that the Government should allow; them to go to the front before couples Avedded during the Avar. I think one of my critics is offering a gratuitous insult to the recently Avedded by referring to them as non-pro-ducers. There has been a great increase in the birth-rate since the Avar, and the principal source of supply has come from newly-wed-ded couples. Everything should be done to encourage young people to marry, .and those avlio do so should be given exemption from military service for at least a year. But perhaps my vlcavs are a little beyond the intelligence of my critics, —Yours, etc., AUNT SALLY. (To the Editor). Sir. —It is Avith some amusement that I read various views re the calling up of married men. While endorsing “Family Man’s” strictures, avc must remember that there are men in this class who are war-mar-ried, and going to the front without a murmer. I had the pleasure of attending a recent famvell to one, and I knoAv they have answered the call willingly, but the class I will deal Avith are those who are deliberately shirking both duties, paternal and to the State. This class, avlio, by their unnatural instincts, think it beneath their "social” standing to have children about them, thereby insulting their own forbears, let alone they avlio have families. Little do they knoAv the contempt that they are held in by those avlio are doing that duty, Paint and poAvder docs not make a lady anymore than a classy suit makes a man, AA'hieh brings to mind the fact that to be loAver doAvn or outside this "society class” the bigger the families. It is not the economic position that affects them, else why havmg in an appeal ease, Avhere the appellant, previously, fought his men avlio asked 10s per day—men Avith families—yet, when his turn came, pleaded that a soldier’s pay Avould not keep his childloss Avife. Sir, to my mind there is only one way to deal with the unnatural natures,’and that is by instituting a State medical and surgical department, with all doctors under State control, avlio would be under a district officer, Avho aa'OulJ be compelled to report to the central „ officer any cases Avhere he is caltccT to attend. —Yours, etc.,

TEDDY BEAR. [A portion of this letter is deleted.—Ed.H.].