BRITISH OR GERMAN?

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1918, Page 8

BRITISH OR GERMAN?

To the. Editor. Sir, —The horrible worlcL-war taking place to-day as far as we are concerned means becoming German or remaining British. Why do not our statesmen (if we have any) enrol every male up to sixty years of age? We should bs all drilled and ready to go over the | seas to protect our women and children if needs be. It makes one's blood boil to see the disorganised state we are in. It is no use talking of defending our Dominion if the Germans get here. Every man's place is in Europe if he is wanted. We know how the Rip van Winkle statesmen of our Empire blundered some eight years ago, when Sir Joseph Ward wanted to get on the Imperial conference track. We know and alas!—realise to-day how far-sighted his motion was. If it had been carried there would" have been no such thing as a referendum in Aus-

tralia, Ireland or anywhere else in our Empire on conscription matters. No man worth his salt should raise his voice against downing the Hun. The existence of the British race demands to-day far-reaching measures, and we must go on. For the time being we must put aside democracy and reinstato autocracy in order, to fight autocracy.—l am, etc., J,'.HUGHES. -