THE NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 222, 9 June 1915, Page 4

THE NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS.

■ (To the Editor.) Dear Sir,—On perusing the letter b£ "Gobeinouche" in your Correspondence- . Column, I thought that the rather uncalled for. Is "Gobemouche" aware of all the circumstances in which many young men are placed who probably were in his mind's eye? Perhaps, if he had been, he would see that a good number of them are; doing just as noble work for their country as serving on the battlefield with their comrades. I would like to< know why "Gobemouch" .should indir vidualise the farmers' sons as cowards, and skulkers. If he would visit th«cities he would find a greater number of men who could be better spared to fill the vacancies in our expeditionary forces. If your correspondent only knew it, a lot of the "cowards" and "skulkers" have already enlisted, and are awaiting orders to serve theircountry. Again, a number of them hav e volunteered and been rejected asunfit for service. I know of one establishment, where, cut of a total of eight young fellows, three have enlisted, and a fourth volunteered, but was rejected" as unfit, and this is no isolated easft either. All cannot go.—Strong-limbed" and brainy young men are required here to run the industries of the' country. It would be a poor 10ok-ou£ for this country and the troops at the: front if only weaklings were left' behind. In numerous cases, financial' and civil institutions have refused leave to their employees, and the farmer's soni3 just as much required to develop wealth on the land to feed the troops at the front, as his services are actually needed on the battlefield. In refr erence to the objectionable remarks re women, the latter do not view the situation in the acute manner as your correspondent. God knows the women " have enough to suffer from this dread* war, without being the target of sucksarcasm, from one who himself has* probably not enlisted. Perhaps the spectre of "Conscription 1 " is playing heavily on "Gobemouche's" too-imagin-ative mind, and in all probability he is not beyond the age of enlistment. If not, why so much "poisonous ga« ,r about other young eligible men, and his reasons for not joining the colours ?' If "Gobemouche" is willing to serve his country, as one would surmise after reading his letter, I think hewould b e doing his duty by and giving ub an opportunity of admiring his pluck.—" There is a Vacant' Place for YOU my Man."—l am, etc... "CONSCRIPTION,"