OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS’

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1943, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS’

> ARE WE BEATEN? (To the Editor) Sir—The month of April has been ushered in with the news of a glorious victory for our New Zealand men abroad and at the same time the news of a shameful defeat for the citizens of our own district. After three years of hardship and continual fighting under conditions that would test the endurance of even the strongest men, once again New Zealand soldiers have made a supreme effort and through “blood and sweat” have gone forward to victory, while we in Masterton, living in comfort and complacency,. have suffered a big defeat not a defeat by a skilful and powerful armed force but have been beaten by the miserable sum of £10,374. In all battles victory can only be gained at a heavy price and we know the price that must be paid by our soldiers. Casualty lists are now coming to hand and as we read those names that are at the head of the lists we must surely feel almost relieved to know that those men who have given all will never know how badly we failed them when asked to do our part. And then the wounded, the men carrying on the fight and the prisoners of war. When medical supplies run short, when parcels containing food and comforts run short, and parcels for prisoners of war, on which many are depending for the necessities of life, fail to arrive, let us hope the men do not realise where the fault lies. We have been warned to expect blood and sweat and tears and already to many sad homes has come the lot of tears. We pray we may be spared the blood, but we know we will have to take our share of the sweat either during or in the aftermath of war. On our present showing of our spirit for our patriotic effort one wonders how we will shape up against the “sweat.” To give is not sufficient: we must make a start to “give up.” To do without things is a very small sacrifice for us to make. Our opportunity for a grand victory, when we could feel pride in our effort, is lost,' but let us gather our forces again and try to wipe out the defeat. Let us go shabby if needs be, but not ashamed. Words without deeds will achieve nothing and therefore I enclose a further small contribution to our patriotic effort, which contribution represents “something gone without.” —I am, etc., K. C. CRUICKSHANK. Masterton, April 2. A cheque for £1 Is enclosed has been handed to the Patriotic Committee.- —Ed. USE OF COLLEGE HALL (To the Editor.) Sir, —Your correspondents on the subject of the use of the Wairarapa College Hall and others 'interested in the continuance of the present injustice will do well to remove the chief offenders from their office. Indirectly, the voters of Masterton are responsible. For example, the Trust Lands Trust cannot escape their responsibility in the closing of educational facilities to primary schools. Does not their nominee consider other schools should not participate in the use of College facilities? Has he not voted against it? The greatest anomaly of all is surely that which relates to the Government nominee. Every primary school child in the Wairarapa has heard the Government’s gospel of co-operation and interdependence of the community—yet the Government’s nominee would refuse the use of the College Hall to other school children. The appropriate authorities should be advised that their wishes are not being given effect to. I understand the plea is to treat all alike. Education has fallen upon evil days if its directors cannot discriminate between good and bad —one unhappybday. (as now) the good will be hanged as well as the guilty. —I am, etc STUNNED. Masterton, April 2, (To the Editor.) Sir, —Regarding the letting of the College Assembly Hall to the West School, for use to hold a fancy dress dance, may I add my condemnation of the members of the Wairarapa College Board who voted against it. As Mr Esau points out, some of these children will be the pupils of the College next year, but until they are members they are refused the use of the hall. The non-voters of the College Board overlook the fact that at their various social gatherings and garden parties the parents of these children spent their money and swelled the funds of the Wairarapa College. The non-voters also overlook the fact that the fathers of dozens of these children are away overseas fighting for Freedom and Democracy. What will some of these men think if their wives write and tell them that their children were refused the use of the Assembly Hall for a children’s dance? On every hand one hears preachers preaching on co-opera-tion and still closer co-operation, but men on a secondary school board preach the opposite. It is men like these who bring about the wars of today. Let these men revoke their decision and let the hall and if they can prove that any damage has been done to it by the West School people, then in the future they will have the right to refuse the use of it to that same school. I hope that some of the parents more intimately concerned will take up their pens and denounce the stand taken by the non-voters of the Wairarapa College Board. —Yours, etc., CELIA BRIDEN, Old pupil of Wairarapa High School. Masterton, April 5.