"SHIRKERS AND COWARDS."

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1915, Page 6

"SHIRKERS AND COWARDS."

HIDING BEHIND WOMEN. TIMARU M.P. SCARIFIES WAR-SHY YOUNG MEN. The Suuth Canterbury quota of the Tenth Reinforcements were addressed at the 'i'imaru railway station the other day by Mr. J. C'raigie, M.P., who addressed the departing soldiers as "Boys who are going 10 light for us." He said that he. was pleased to be present and to be associated with the Mayor in giving a seiul-off to young men who had volunteered Kir their country's service. He had met many boys who were undergoing training and had found them full of enthiisiam for the soldier's life. The worlc was doing them good, and young men who had gone from office life into eamp had assured him that they would never go back and sit on office stools, lie was sure these men would be as good as the best of those who had done such gallant work for the Empire, and that was saying a good deal. He was pleased to see some returned soldiers present, men who had been to the front and taken their share of the great burden. He took off his hat to them.

"You men who are going to fight for us are going to be the aristocracy of New Zealand in the future," Mr. C'raigie declared amid applause. ''What is wealth ? What is land r These are sordid and mean things compared with the spirit you are showing in going to tight your country's battles. (Applause.) I honor you for that spirit, i feel it a privilege to be here with you. I take oil' my hat to you." "Now," continued Mr. Craigie, "I want to say a few words about those who are not going." (Applause, and a cry of "Give 'em a shake up.") There were many men who apparently could go, but did not go. There were men with the vote who stayed behind while striplings of eighteen went out to fight for them. If a man was old enough and intelligent enough to have the franchise he should he able to fight, provided other responsibilities were not keeping liim at home. He would like to think that all the men over twenty-one who were able to fight would eome forward and share in the great sacrifice. There should be equality of sacrifice between man and maj. (Applause.) The national register was being compiled, and would show the authorities what men were .available. He was sorry to say that he had heard that some men were trying to avoid registration. He hoped there were not many of these. Some young men were hurtling off to get married in order to avoid their obligation to their country. Their case was parallel to that of the German soldiers who had put women and children in front of them as a shield against bullets They were shirkers and cowards. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that all the young men who were going away now would come back to get married, but young men should go, whether they got married first or not.