BOND SLAVES OF HABIT.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 March 1918, Page 3

BOND SLAVES OF HABIT.

Persisting in normal habits and customs in war time 'is the greart-est danger to which England, and, by inference, the allied democracies now are exposed. This pronouncement has just been made in the official journal of the British National War Savings Committee. "While we are damning Germany with our mouths we are damning England by our actions, and there can be no two opinions as to which has the greater effect," says the journal in an appeal for the people of Britain to cease being "bona slaves of habit." After a reminder that there are some who have the double burden of the civilian effort and the loss of relatives in the war, the journal makes it clear that the appeal is directed to those who are free from the greater sacrifice, and "who must be poorspirited indeed if they refuse the lesser help it is in their power to render." "The task which we have to accomplish is to break and change the habits of the majority of the people of this country," it declares. "The battleship Britain is in the thick of a hot fight, and yet people insist on being carried as passengers and on being clothed and treated generally as well as, or better, than in times of peace. The legend of Nero fiddling while Rome was burning is a story of dignified and noble conduct compared witn the people of Britain endeavouring to live as usual while the soldiers are in the trenches, while the fleet is a sea, and while the fate of civilisation hangs in the balance."