NATIONAL SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1918, Page 6

NATIONAL SERVICE.

To the Editor. Sir, —It seems to me tHat tJi e time has arrived when all in this part of the British Dominions should be called upon to serve their . ountry and the Empire to their utmost. I think you will agree with me oil the following points:— (1) That the war must be fought out? to the bitter end, for it is impossible to make the enemies of the Empire realise that anything else 'but might is right. (2) That the sacrifices which must be made by the nation should be borne equally toy all(3) That no sacrifice those of us who are too old, or too weak, to serve as •"oldiers can make, can equal that of those who go to defend our Country. (4) That to allow any one to profit out of the war while ur own sons and the other sons and daughters of the Umpire are offering all they have, including their lives, for the Empire's cause is distinctly wicked and should be stopped at once. In order that we, all of us, as far as possible, may help to win the war, I would suggest:— (1) That every man in New Zealand bo put upon the same footing as our soldiers in every respect, as far as possible, that is to say: That every man, woman and child receive the same rate of pay as a private soldier, his wife, child or children receive. (•2) That all military officers receive the eamo rate of pay as the privats soldiers. (3) That we receive the same kind of rations and raiment as the private soldiers. (4) That New Zealand being a producing country, every available man and woman bo called upon to work for the State, and all the land taken, while the war lasts, for the State. (5) That men with a gift for organise, tion and a knowledge of farming in its many branches have power similar to that of military officers to direct other men to work on the farms and teach those who do not know. (C) That men with organisation qualities and knowledge of the best means of conveying the produce attend to the conveyance of the produce of the land to the ships. (7) That the whole of the profljice belong to the State—that all interest and rent cease to be payable. (S) Tiiat an inventory and valuation of all property taken by the State b/ made and that the property holders be put, alter the war has ceased for twej years, into the same position, as nearly as possible, as they are at present. (9) TJ>at those who work receive certificates entitling them to rations and clothes and those who will not work will not eat nor he clothed. If some proper scheme were worked out upon the above crude lines it would mean*— | (1) That nine-tenths or more of the offices in the country would be closed | and the officers available for production, i (2) That probably nine-tenths of all [retail establishments and a. like proportion of wholesale ones would be (closed and the operatives released for i National Service. j (3) That all who are engaged in professions which" live upon the weakness of their fellow men would be made to do useful wort; .and the awful waste which goes on, which can be attributed largely to the desire on the part of many to "shs'.v off" and to assume a superiority which thev do not possess, on account of their wealth or education, would not go on any longer. (4) That the Second Division men <*nd others would be satisfied.

(5) That the alien difficulty would be overtime and aliens would, nolens, volens, work on an equality with the soldiers whose places they are taking. Moreover, if we were all, temporarily, put on the same footing in that all our incomes would be taken to win the war as well as our labor, I think that the words of the immortal Burns would come true sooner than otherwise. You wll remember he said:— "Then let us pray that come it may As come it will for a' that, That sence and worth o'er a' the earth May bear the gree for a' that." Much more could be Said but I am afraid of wearying you and the leaders of your paper.—l am, etc., "JUSTITIA."