CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1917, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

RESPONDING TO THE CALL. We go not and have never doubted the preparedness of the Second Division men to do their share. We recognise that 'up to the present the Government has failed to make for their dppendents, but we hope that that vital point will bo attended to at once and that the provision will not only be liberal but generoiw. But we maintain that it would be entirely wrong to send into camp a single member of the Second Division whilst members of thrs First Division men who have not responded to the call. If reports which have reached us are correct the number of First Division men who have not responded would suffice to make up two if not three reinforcements. If these do thetr duty, it would mean the postponement of the calling up of the Second Division for several months, thus preventing the unnecessarily early breaking up of homes, and saVing the country no inconsiderable sum in the way of' allowances. If there is not now on the Statute Book measures sufPeient to enable the Government to enforce compliance with the law in the case of defaulters, no time should be lost in having the necessary legislation passed, and the country has every right, to imperatively demand that this should be done without, a moment's delay. The question is one that brooks of no delay, and we hope members will insist that" Ministers should do their part in this connection. If the present state of affairs is allowed to continue, it simply means that the Government is offering a premium to shirkers. The country should imperatively demand that the ■members of the Second Division should have a "square deal," and that all fitmembers of the First Division should first be sent to the front.—Christchurch Star.