THE WAR EFFORT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 158, 4 June 1940, Page 2

THE WAR EFFORT.

’ (To the Editor.) Sir, —I do think “Union Jack’s” criticism of our present Government is ill-timed and undeserved. Have they not always kept step with the Mother Country ? In September, 1938, when the Home Government believed in extreme pacificism, were they not ex-tremely-.pacifist? And when war broke out. were, they not extremely militant and, patriotic ? And did they not lead ip. declaring war against Germany, and have, they not proportionately surpassed Australia in their war effort? Even the extremely onerous terms imposed by the City of London they swallowed unmurmuringly, .although our children may hereafter have to live on the lumps that keep, rising in their throats. They Jiave also waived their convictions for the time being by meeting the popular demand for conscription. J think, “Union Jack,” your accusations are unfair. Did it take you seven long years to wake up to the fact that Hitler was diabolical?' So short a time as two years ago certain members tried to say that we were told his was the word of a gentleman, and 1 have vague memories of gentlemen’s agreements. Should an' enemy ever invade this country a few machine-guns and antiaircraft would lie more effective than waving a “Union Jack.”—l am, etc., ... . F.M. Palmerston North, 4/6/40.