PATRIOTISM, ENEMY LABOUR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1863, 10 August 1918, Page 3

PATRIOTISM, ENEMY LABOUR.

AND RETURNED SOLDIERS. (To tlio Editor.) Sir. —I not iced in your lender of Thursday’s issue a few remarks in reference to an application for assistance by a returned soldier. I for one, quite agree that every man who has done his duty to his country on the held of battle should receive the assistance provided for him out of the funds subscribed for that purpose. Eoxton, at any rate, has not had to “fork out” any largo sum as yet for that particular purpose, and, of course, the funds are in a very sound condition —or they should be. Of course, there are exceptions where, although a man has done his turn at the front, still likes his beer when he returns home again. Still, the genuine one should not suffer for the sins of others, as surely a man who boozes his money away cannot expect people to hand him assistance to squander in beer, and those individuals who persist in the practice of getting drunk, even if it is from their own pocket, should not claim the Society’s assistance when they are dry. It doesn’t take long for the public to notice a returned man, whether he is careful or otherwise, and a “boozer” is apt to degenerate into a “waster” or “hanger on,” whether a returned soldier or not. Now, Sir, a word or two .in reference to aliens being employed. Is it a fact that a leading citizen of the town employs enemy labourf If I am misinformed I apologise; if not, I think that if a man cannot run a business or a farm without employing German labour he deserves to lose the lot. There has been talk of appropriating German property, the property that is worked by Germans belonging to a so-ealled Britisher should he seized also. The Germans in New Zealand are quite as capable of “Kultaring” things they come in contact with as are their brother or sister Huns in Berlin. Their heart is not for New Zealand, although they receive all, and more, of the good things that* most of us Britishers do not. and they don’t: give much to our soldier fund either. I had recently an insight as to the number of foreigners employed at a mill not very many miles from this town, and found, to my surprise, more than half were foreign subjects, including Germans, who had as much to say ;ts anybody at the mill, and didn't care twopence whether them was a war on or not as long as they were working. Those sort of things make genuine Britishers warm up and he a bit canny when asked to subscribe to patriotic funds. A good many have given away that which they could very well do with themselves (but with patriotic saerilice). Anyhow, whatever Eoxton does, and its leaders, patriotic and otherwise, let it be British right through, and if our esteemed townsman cannot lind Britishers to work for him, let him sell out to sour' Britisher who can. I am out of work at the present lime, and have a family to support which are all British. Perhaps lie could Ibid me s.ancl h.ing to do and dispose of one of his Huns. Trusting I have not been misled in my information as i > this particular enemy labour job. I beg to remain just BRITISHER.

(To (lie Editor.) Sir. —Will yon please allow me to air a grievance, not against the teaching of the school, but against the children being made use of to collect funds for patriotic and other affairs without first asking the consent of parents. You remember, sir, some year or so back the children were asked to bring gifts^to the school for a school effort in aid of the patriotic funds. Boys, not to be beaten by their companions, stole eggs and vegetables from the household stock. Gifts were acknowledged by the master, and those who brought most were specially praised, and this set up a spirit of envy and compete ion. Potatoes on exhibition in front of grocers’ shops disappeared. I won’t say any more about that. Well, sir, a number of parents objected, not only on moral grounds, but because they could not afford to make gifts according to the children's idea of generosity. .Now, sir, the same thing is going on again. A little time ago it was pennies for the Copper Trail, and now it is money for Christmas puddings, and a competition to see which class can collect the most money. I don’t mind giving my'Children what I can afford, and what f can afford to patriotic funds, but I object, and there are others who agree with me, that school children have no right to he used for this purpose, and I think the Committee or head teacher should be asked to stop it. Perhaps some other parenl can say more on this subject than I can, but when you refuse the children there is trouble in the house, and the fear of being laughed at by other children at school for not doing as much as they have done. Hoping you will find space for this loiter, and thanking you in anticipation.—l am, etc., PARENT. [WE agree with “Parent” that this practice may lead to serious consequences, and that no financial appeal for any purpose whatsoever should be allowed without the Committee giving careful consideration to the matter before sanctioning same. —Ed.H.]