OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1939, Page 8

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

HELPING RECRUITING (To the Editor.) .--"Re-serviN ’ io Issue of 10--iu7 says that it is V/airanapa’s right to take pr'dr in ou<- rate of Territorial enlistment ... I agree with Reservist” when he says there still remains the National Reserve—men from 35 to 55 years with or without previous military service. In this both our Mayor and Councillor W;i--sr-.n have signed cards and there may be others also. In that these two have given a lead; hut outside the RS.A. the response of the Dominion to the Primo Minister's appeal has not been worth a cheer as I believe the R..S.A. account.: for over 50 per cent of the Reserve voiuntr-era. Judging by reports in the Press it would appear that, there is a majority of the U.S.A. in favour of compulsory military training, f agree and think the R.S.A. member, are .not acting in the ml.ere:.'.:; of the Dominion in backing up the Prime Minister in hi:; effort to gel. the voluntary system going again, in which system the training laid down is quite inadequate at the pre-sent time. Most New Zealand authorities agree that a minimum of three months' continuous yearly training is necessary. How can cur civic leaders assist and encourage men to join the National Reserve more than by offering themselves early in the piece as cur ?<layor and Councillor Wilson did? Will “Reservist" suggest they bring in borough and county regulations prohibiting pacifist meetings, etc. Trophies might be offered for rifle and ma-chine-gun shooting; the best group, section, troop and platoon in the various units. The Government might even be induced to suppress the hoodlums who stand at street corners and jeer at a Territorial who is alone on his way to drill, or perhaps in his new blue uniform. No, the remedy is in the hands of the Territorials themselves —to make themselves so fit that the average street loafer will not dare. —Yours, etc., "ANOTHER RESERVIST." Masterton, July 4.

APOLOGY TO THE MAYOR - (To the Editor.) Sir, —I had no idea when I Wrote the letter which appeared on Tuesday concerning leadership in recruiting that our worthy Mayor would have been thrown into such a state of consternation as is shown in his very spirited and reasoned reply reported in yesterday’s issue. I am a comparative newcomer to this district, but I do read the paper and I do know the splendid nature of the pub-lic-spirited work performed by the Mayor. I was not, however, attacking him in my earlier letter. I was attacking the lethargic nature of this community and some of its leaders (not our energetic Mayor), just as Mr Jordan has done on many occasions when public meetings have been poorly attended. I should certainly have excluded the Mayor specifically from my criticism, but I repeat that generally speaking in the matter of recruiting there has been little coordinated community effort. What about our sports bodies and similar group organisations within the community? We cannot and do not- expect the Mayor to carry all the leadership of the place on his shoulders. There are other responsible citizensholding prominent positions in various spheres of organised effort. Where have they been and where are they now when the National Reserve is but slowly filling up? I offer my apologies to the Mayor for inferring that he has been at fault in this matter of recruiting appeals, but I repeat that if he alone of our community leaders is left to lead the band on every occasion we are sadly lacking in civic spirit. There have been and still are hosts of occasions for others to lead appeals for strengthening our defence forces. I honour the energy of Masterton’s Mayor, but I condemn the apathy of so many others prominent in our public life. — Yours, etc., RESERVIST. Masterton, July 6.