OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1942, Page 3

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

MEN'FOR WAR SERVICE (To the Editor) Sir,-—I was very saddened to read of the resolution passed by the Dannevivke County Council, requesting the War Cabinet to exempt the married mon from overseas service and to take the boys of 20 instead. It is pathetic to hear of men holding positions of responsibility wishing to save married men at the expense of youths. Don t these men realise that up till now our single men have borne practically the whole brunt of the overseas service 9 Don't these men realise that the 20-year-olds will have already borne the burden of two years’ Army life on their immature shoulders? Don’t they realise that these boys have scarcely lived yet, while the married man with a family has experienced a full and complete life, and now has a large stake in the country to fight for? Don t they realise that these boys are some mothers’ sons and that many mothers have sent up to four and more sons away, and a wife can send only one husband? I have yet to read of a mother complaining of her sons of mature age being sent to fight, but the Dannevirke County Council would, find all the mothers up in arms if their boys, hardly out of the school room, were sent overseas. Granted that it is hard on the wives who are left to battle along with young families on their own," but whv should youths on the threshold of life be sorted out to be the chief defenders of the State?—l am, etc., FAIR PLAY. Masterton, November 13.