OUR COURT, OUR WOMEN, AND WAR

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1917, Page 6

OUR COURT, OUR WOMEN, AND WAR

To the Editor. 'Sir, In one of your June issues, now before me, is a letter signed "Hannah Woods," which, with stirring conciseness, comments upon recept disclosures in our Magistrate's Court of how it is even yet possible for some of our womanhood lo wantonly waste or spoil the opportunity to respond to the clarion call from the best of our manhood, who still welter in sweat and blood, and Writhe in death throes, chiefly for women';; sake. To the incidents elicited, (lie Court actually referred in facetious terms of "amenities' 1 ! Well, all one can say is "Thank God there's a staunch and serious Captain Walker to champion patriotism and discipline; to Tip up stale conditions, and let in wholesome light and air!" These matters set me thinking. Some glaring instances are reputed of women having a boasted "good time!" The shame of it would lie not in the "good time" alone, so much as that such should be indulged in at, the expense of heroic men, whose blood-mnnev or death-money would seem thereby to be lavishly spent. The following original verses continue the theme:—

OUR WOMEN AND WAR. Thcre've ibeen calls upon our manhood; calls to meet a deadly foe, A foe that's faithless, ruthless, fell and strong— An iconoclast invader, whose rapaeitv ~ wreaks woe, By a hearth-defiling, home-despoiling throng. ° Fes! The clarion call's still sounding; and the call is being met, (For discipline is galvanised to life!) From young and prime virility, come fighting mien and step; And camps leal peace-pursuits to martial strife. For arrogance of power would seal On smiling lands, with Hun's rude heel, A bestial might o'er~right. There's a call upon a mother, for a son to "play the game"— The British fair-play game on land or sea. Does she waver, faint or sicken? Would she wear the Mush of shame For shirker? No! Sad mourner rather be. And there's call upon you, sister, to give up a brother loved, And sooth a mother's noble self-denial; Tor "Jcultured" ir.urd'rous libertines, by red mad hatred moved, Contrive yet ways iniquitous and vile, Wliere arrogance of power still brands On smiling lands, with Hun's coarse hands, A bestial might o'er right! There's a call upon a sweetheart, for a lover to "God speed" (Rude ravishers and rapine n\ust be checked!) Shall the hordes of royal rabid dog glut a lascivious greed? Leave art and nature, with traditions, wricked ? Shall arrogance of power still tread On smiling lands, <by Hun-hounds ■bled, With bestial might o'er right. Still further calls are coming—call to you, home-loving wife. Foul, loathsome deeds await a fierce redress, Glad homes debauched, brute violence, dishonored 'burdened life. Urge on your man! No tears! No vain distress! And now for you, good daughter, too, the call is on the way. Prepare for it, for dad will have to go! Sever sweet ties that hflld* you both. You would not bid him stay Whilst bondage holds a kinsman under foe? Where arrogance of power despoils The smi'ing lands crass Hun embroils

with bestial might o'er right And let the ca'l fro further; let it form a slogan creed: Communion at such time is helpful, good "Lest we forget!" Forget one hour the war's red shamble's greed:— And "common lot" is by us understood A sen'ral call to you, good women, mort " or less distressed, Who've lost, or may lose in the firim lino. s Remember there's campaigning work "a! Home" to be assessed And fairly portioned, whether rough oi fi ne - So, be your aims the type-machine, th< needle, or the plough (For cadi or all may come along youi Do realise that war comes first ant last; 'tis all, 'tis now! gjry 'l'll do w;;at I can for yours am mine'' Pi„i lt ! Hourly what you can (no " "must") of volunteers be one, No matter what the service or the .price Since everything done for "our Doys v, ill count" against the Hun, Whilst those same 'ljoys" make hourl; sacrifice Where arrogance of power woul< On smiling lands with hell-Hun' heel , ■,4. i A bestial mignt o er right. -I am, etc., BENQM W HITE. Lower Mangorei, July 11, 1917#