The Taihape Daily Times MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 1914. FARMERS AND THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 94, 21 December 1914, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 1914. FARMERS AND THE WAR.

AND WAIMAKINO ADVOCATE ("With which is incorporated The Tai hape Post odJ "Wtdmarino News.)

Members of the Taihapc branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union have launched upon the attainment of means to an end, with which every patriot, every humane man and woman must feel a deep-seated, whole-hearted concern. Farmers have been endeavouring to evolve methods of assisting the starving thousands in Belgium that would be productive of the least possible administrative waste, and we are pleased to believe that they have almost entirely achieved what they set out to accomplish. Our farmers, in common with farmers all over the Dominion, have realised that the existence of our Empire was never more dangerously threatened than it is now; and also that it is not because of anything that tlie Empire has done of itself that it is not very much more disastrously involved and menaced than it is. Our Homeland has recently hacr the merest taste from the cupf of death and bitterness that Belgium has drained to its very dregs; and all for righteous principle, for an honour that we trust is not one whit greater or more virtuous than that of every part of our own Empire. Belgians have sacrificed their country, and . thousands upon thousands of the lives of their men; they have had their wives, mothers, daughters, and children murdered, brutaly hacked, bayoneted and mutilated for mere savage pleasure or revenge, in many cases under their own eyes; their homes and their lands have been ravaged and destroyed. Why did the Belgians do this? All sorts of advantages and privileges were offered them to desist from forcible opposition of those wanton invaders. It was not with the object of pecuniary or territorial gain, nor because they were mad enough to think they could drive back those hordes of strongly armed Teuton savages. They knew, from the first, that if they tried to stem the torrent of dis- ; honour and blood thirstiness their country would be laid desolate, and that the flower of their manhood would perish. They knew that the treasures of centuries would be lost, and that their "holiest places would be desecrated and razed to the ground; that every thing life held dear would need to be sacrificed to the moloch of arrogancy, ostentation, selfexaltation and super-pride. They had before them the mental pi -* ture, in all its shame and hideon;; ness, of a desolated and det: a- I

ted country, pitted over with temporary sheds and shelters undc r

would lie dying' of misery, disease, or starvation, with only straw, rags or litter to protect thorn from the cold, which is so intense at this tinte of the year as to freeze the gijouud several inches deep around them. It is difficult to believe thai Belgians made such sacrifices rather than break their given word that they would defen cl Ihei v : n cut.ra 1 ity j \ o matter what Power might seek lo set it aside. The poet said, "Life every man holds dear, but the brave man holds honour far more precious dear than life." Could Sh ak cspearc 1 have kn own what Belgium would sacrifice for honour; how much move precious dear than life Belgians held their honour, even he, with his unparalleled vocabulary, would have found it difficult to do honour to these people for their unparalleled bravery.

The death-dealing curse has reached our own" Homeland, we know not whose relatives are .among, those who have fallen. Unprotected women and elnldrf-n in pur. English towns sal; at break'fast ~\v he a , shells from Oerirnii warships fell among' them killing them almost in heaps. Can we conceive any idea of. what would have happened had Germans not been held baek by Belgium. Those hordes of cultured savages would have.'got possession of the nearest ports to our land and would have systematically wrought death and destruction to a far greater extent than it can be possible for them to do now. Belgium has saved us'; what are we going io do for Belgium; Are we going to leave their helpless and injured to starve? This, is an occasion for something' more than a display of generosity; we have an honour to maintain, and an imperative duty to perform. We know that Belgians fought our battles before we were ready to fight them ourselves: Ave cannot under such circumstances honouably leave them helpless to die of want. In a mental pictureUet. all the well-to-do New be marshalled ; transport them to Belgium; take them to the war, over the battlefields, and show them the misery inseparable from war, a war that, while spreading death and desolation .over the little kingdom of Belgium, is materialy increasing their own incomes by creating an extraordinary demand for nearly everything they produce in New Zealand. Then let them * march slowly, in single file, through the miles of rickety, temporary sheds and shelters under which starving women and children lie, waiting for death. This is indeed a terrible picture but it is one that may be looked upon every day. Could we see it in truth we should have no fear about how New Zealanders would aquit themselves, for they have proved themselves, again and again, to be among the most generous and humane people on earth. They have only to realise the importance and urgency, whether honour and duty is involved or not, and their purses and hearts are freely opened.

Farmers, through their Union, have entered upon a campaign that, is laudable and commendable, and of as much importance to the allies and our Empire as though they were taking their places in the trenches. Some must find food while the others fight, if our home and Empire is to stand against strong power-seeking nations who have been preparing to take the name of.our country of? the map for several decades past. The large number of sheep they will collect will prove of incalculable value at this particular time. When frost and snow lie everywhere heat-giving meat food is indispensable in saving lives and lessening hardships among our Belgian friends. Let us not be criminally and dishonourably thoughtless about" this Belgian distress, for it is a vers' real thing and just what might' have happened in the homes of Great Britain had it not been for the gallant sacrifices our bravo little ally made. The proposal, we understand,, is that the local branch of the Farmers' Union shall act as an executive; some of whom will be deputed to gather contributions of sheep from, settlers in this district which, for the purpose, will Jirclude Hnnterville, Mangaweka and Taihape. To render the duties of these canvassers as light as possible it is hoped that contributions will, be spontaneously coming forward; that no one will wait to be interviewed, but will communicate with the chairman or secretary of the branch or with Dr. Barnett, who is taking an active part m organising the project, so that the first stock train can be got away at the earliest possible moment. The Govern,' nient is giving the stock train tree; they will deliver gilts free to the freezing works. Nine hundred sheep are wanted, and as many more as possible. Tn getting this number . totrother it -k-1

Although all sheep will be pooled for convenience of despatch, separate records 01 all gifts will be carefully kept and preserved so that each district may receive credit for exactly what it has contributed. Whether either of the Wellington freezing companies will undertake to freeze free of charge is not at present known. The Gear Company very generously undertook !:o freeze gift sheep till the end of this month, but the duration of the period did not admit organised efforts of the kind in question to profit by tin offer. No doubt freezing companies will be give]] an opportunity to say whether thoy will extend the time or whether they will renew their offer. In any case, if no better arrangements can be made, pelts and cleanings will cover the actual cost of preparation for shipment. The backbone of our young country has commenced a noble effort in a humane and glorious cause; every patriot will be proud of the success thev will achieve.