The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1915. OUR NATIONAL DUTY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 211, 19 May 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1915. OUR NATIONAL DUTY.

(With which is incorporated The Tal-

hapa Post ani Wahnaxino News.)

In a recent issue of a British, journal, Mr. L. G. C. Money, M.P., indulges in some straight talk in connection with the varying conceptions of what is our duty with respect to the war our Empire has been forced into to prevent its component parts becoming so many German provinces. Mr. Money .says it is a very line thing to live in a natural fortress iwth a deep, wide moat all Tound it; subscribing, if grudgingly, for ships in which a handful of sailors, ffor a vry small sum, risk their lives on our account. Whatever it may cost others, it will be pretty much the same to us, Yes, ii in a jolly fino thing to be islander*, with, a proud navy that we have neve* £ee«. working; night"a;ad day on our accaaat. It'ia; fine for. us. all, but it is pas?|fottlttrig. &ro and particularly jolly far 'fchowe who have something to sell in the way of national re- j quiremeata. In"shipping' matters corn- J

inercial indeed. The writer makes out a particularly scathing., indictment against shipping companies, but he is also rather severe on the subject of the national duty of individuals. He says that our men at this time may be divided into two great divisions, "those who do and those who-don't.", The-first of these consists of men who are making some sort of voluntary sacrifice for the nation. They are giving their time, their money, or their lives to the great cause. The second, and, unfortunately, much the larger part — those who don't —may be subdivided thus;—(a) The. young, unmarried men of military age who are shirking, and who, by this time have quite got over the shamjp of having shirked. They have made their excuse, and represented that excuse to their friends. Their .friends have more or less accepted the excuse, and you can see British girls content to go out with the shirkers any evening you care to take a walk. Mr. Money doesn't know why they do it, but they do. (b) This subdivision consists of married men, who ought not to go save at the last pinch, and of men not of military age. (c) This consists of men who are in the position to make profit out of the national misfortune and emergency, and are not hesitating to run that opportunity,to its limit of possibility. Continuing, Mr. Money says he is in a position in which he is brought constantly into contact with a number of men who, for what is in the most favourable case the equivalent of no pay at all, and which in aome cases means an actual loss in out-of-pocket expenses, are actively serving their country. They are mostly of more than military age, and no one could justly reproach them if they pointed to the fact that millions of young men ought to be doing what they are doing or more. They are as keen as mustard, and they gladly endure discomforts from day to day. Considering such men, Mr. Money says: "I confess I often feel bitter when I think of the j enormous number of young men who' have not come forward and of the 'business men' who are making fortunes, out of the war." What a contrast it is. Here is a professional man who normally makes a moderate Income, giving up half of his week and much more than half. of his income, in order to strengthen our defences in a certain direction. He patiently drills and,,marches,. and learns- gunnery and gets dirty and fagged, and is obedient and cheerful in all things. And hero, by way of contrast, is your shipowner calmly, telling the public that "We have a right to make money." The writer wants to know what is to be done with that part of the nation which is engaged in fattening upon the nation as a whole what time so many are enduring, not only* the risk of death, but what is far worss; the fatigues and privations which often reduce a man to such case that death loses its terror. :As for the young men who have still failed to call at the recruiting office, Mr. Money thinks the time has come when a sharp and short Temedy should be applied.