SHIRKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1918, Page 6

SHIRKERS.

To tlie Editor. Sir,—Mr. H. Trimble brands all persons seeking exemption as shirkers. At the bottom of all appeals for exemption by farmers was the fact that they wanted to stay at home and enjoy the fat prices obtaining, so says Mr. Trimoio. This is a libel on many worthy men. aiul it should not go unnoticed. It might have some merit if there was evidence that Mr. Trimble, who. of course, is beyond, the military age limit, was setting an example in patriotism by doing something for the dependents of those who are fighting his and other sruv-at-homes' bnttles, or giving everything to a patriotic fund beyond what he requires for his own actual requirements, or helping some of his neighbors who are weigiied down with care and work because they have given all their iioys to fight the enemy. If he were doing something patriotic and sclf-abnegatious like this, then, I say, his admonitions could be listened to if they could not be justified. Mr. Trimble has other ways of helping to win the war. He could, for instance, give up earning fat cheques farmers are supposed to be receiving and do helpful work at Trentham or Wellington, or volunteer to keep watch over the elusive prisoners on Somes or Motuihi island. Now, there are few men of my acquaintance who have appealed for exemption who are afraid to face the music and do their bit. To some of them it is harder to stay than to go. Not that they are breaking their necks to have a shot at the Germans, because they are not, but because of the duty they feel they owe to their country and the obligation imposed upon their manhood at this critical time. To brand these men as cowards is wrong and unjust. The exempted men whom he has publicly traduced have a right to inquire what Mr. Trimble is doing to assist in winning the war, seeing that ho cannot be called upon fo"r military service.—l am, etc., C2.