OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1943, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

NIGHT FLYING (To the Editor.) Sir, —It seems a great pity that “Be Reasonable” has been so badly disturbed by the Air Force flying the last two nights. After all, surely these men, who are certainly not in this war just for the fun of things, might be allowed to gain the practice they want i) sometimes. I wonder what the people in England, who, night after night, have it planes overhead, would think if letters I- appeared in the papers full of como plaints about disturbed slumber? e There is a war on. Let the men who d have to do the dirty work in it have e all the time they need to perfect themn selves. Theirs are the lives being n risked not those of the people lying in y bed in Masterton.—l am, etc., >f “BE PREPARED.” if Masterton, January 28. is » GRATITUDE THAT IS DUE 1, ;t (To the Editor.) s Sir, —Would it not be better if your ’ r correspondents expressed more enthusiasm for the work our airmen are r doing rather than complain of occasional discomfort caused by their activities? Would we not have more reason to grouse if they were not around, and at time close over our heads? These activities are essential to their training and we should be prepared to accept such nuisance value as they involve with faith in those who conduct them. Let us remember that these young men belong to the service of which Mr Churchill said: “Never has so much been, owed by so many to so few,” and cut out complaints accordingly.—. I am, etc., ARCHER HOSKING. Masterton, January 29. ;) REASON TO BE THANKFUL a s (To the Editor.) Sir,—l would like to take this opporq tunity of replying to “Be Reasonable’s” very unreasonable letter in this even- ' ing’s paper, regarding night flying. Does he realise that while he lies safely in bed, whether he sleeps or not, he, and all the other citizens of the Dominion, are being protected by our boys in the a air? How can he expect them to suitably reply to an unexpected Japanese raid by night if they themselves have had no experience of flying in the dark? " Perhaps, instead of listening to our planes, he would prefer to hedr explod--1 ing bombs to shatter the silence of the '• countryside. s He also refers to the women’s nerves " to be considered after the big earth--1 quake approximately six months ago. 3 Does not this speak very poorly of the ■ 3 morale of our womenfolk when we con- '■ - sider what is being experienced by our - women and children in England? They t are not only kept from sleep by the : - noise of planes, enemy planes, but know - the horrors of shrieking shells and i

i bursting bombs. Do they write to the . paper?- No, they face the new day with 5 renewed courage, and go about their - work, come what may, thankful for r their British planes patrolling the skies i day and night. May we in New Zealand > strive to imitate their bravery and endurance, should we ever know the terrors of enemy air raids. In conclusion, I hope that if “Be Reasonable” is forced to write to the Air Minister, he will receive a reply worthy of such a protest.—l am, etc.,' “KITTYHAWK.” Masterton, January 28. SOUNDS THAT SHOULD PLEASE (To the Editor) Sir, —“Be Reasonable” is insulting all ; the women of Masterton in saying that their nerves are shattered, presumably . by .earthquakes. ... He should go on his knees . . ; and thank those

brave men who have given their live , to protect us and him from enerm P planes flying over the district ant ' dropping bombs. The noise of plane. ' flying overhead should be music in hi ears, knowing that our airmen an ; getting valuable training. My family’; reaction to the night flying planes ove: our house and district was that it i: ; wonderful to think they are our plane: ; and that one could sleep contentedly . I would like to meet “Be Reasonable’ ‘ for he begins his letter “As a citizei who pays for the upkeep of this coun- . try.” Well, if he is doing that, whj do I have to pay a quarter of my in- , come in taxes if the onus of keeping ’ the country is on “Be Reasonable?’ ' ■ • • Should he wish to know my name I am prepared through you to disclose mine to him, provided through yot he discloses his to me, and in tha' eventuality I enclose a 2d stamp.— am, etc., A MEMBER OF THE WAIRARAPA R.S.A. The above letter has been condensed —Ed. BETTER THAN BOMBS (To the Editor) Sir, —“A citizen who pays for the upkeep of this country” would appear to rate very highly his contribution to that end if he thinks that an essential part of training for air-war should be limited to what his and other shattered nerves can “reasonably” be expected to endure in the way of interference with sleep. Practice in nightflying is an absolutely necessary part of an airman’s training and the sufferers from nerves, shattered presumably by earthquakes, acts of God, might well reflect on the protection from acts of men which we all owe so largely to the skill of our own and allied air forces. Let such 'people as your correspondent reflect for a moment on how blessed we are in 'that our nights are subject only to occasional disturbance by friends, not as in Britain and elsewhere by enemies, with a bomb here and there for better measure. —I am, etc., MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Masterton, January 28. _____