OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 May 1943, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

BRITISH & DOMINION TROOPS (To the Editor) Sir, —In connection with the storming and capture of the height of Takrouna by New Zealand troops, it has been stated that it is a shame the way they are being used. This inference, which does us little credit, is as slanderous as the old canard about the inferiority of Imperial troops. Let us heai - what some competent observers have to say on the subject. In “Only the .Stars are Neutral,” Quentin Reynolds says: “You hear a lot about the New Zealanders, the Australians, the Canadians, and the South Africans, but you seldom hear the story of the ordinary British regiment. The British War Office policy has always been to shroud the deeds of British regiments in anonymity.” And in his book. “America Comes Across," lan Hay writes: “It never occurs to the composers of our war bulletins to lay emphasis upon what in their view ought to be taken for granted—such as the gallantry and devotion of the Imperial soldiers. Thomas Atkins, they consider, needs no pat on the back for doing his obvious duty, so they reserve their thanks and gratitude for the Dominion and other troops who have come to our aid from all over the world. But the impression created in that world is that Thomas Atkins is not there—or, if he is, someone else is in the forefront of the battle.”

Yes, how many of us here in New •Zealand are aware that it was only | by the sacrifice of the Royal Marines, < who lost 1400 of their men, that the evacuation of Crete was made possible? Perhaps the war has not yet cured us of our insularity, and we do not want to know. How many of us know that fully 70 per cent of the casualties in the Middle East were suffered by Imperial troops? How many of us remember Longstop Hill, though it happened but yesterday? Presumably, it is all taken for granted. Those who daily by suggestion and innuendo imply that the Dominion alone is fighting the war for Britain in Africa, should realise that notwithstanding their gallant achievements, the presence of New Zealand troops in that theatre of war will bear no relation to the duration and conduct of the war. By all means let us laud the efficiency and gallantry of our troops, but for heaven’s sake let us preserve our sense of balance. —Yours, etc < JUSTICE. Masterton, April 30. It may be hoped that few New Zealanders are so ill-informed and nar-row-minded as our correspondent suggests. In the news from day to day due prominence is given to the gallant achievements of British and Allied fighting forces. Our correspondent shows a poor sense of balance in his statement that the presence of New Zealand troops in North Africa “will bear no relation to the duration and conduct of the war.’’ —Ed. FLOWERS ON ANZAC DAV (To the Editor) Sir,—Would you kindly allow me space in your paper to say a little about the Anzac Day that has just passed. As I was unable to attend the service, I made a special trip to the War Memorial on the following day to see the floral emblems. Surely we women of Masterton can do better than that. What is more beautiful and fitting than to see a thick carpet of flowers all around the Memorial? There is also another thing I would like to mention and that is flowers for the soldiers’ graves on Anzac Day. Is it not possible to form a graves committee to attend to soldiers’ graves? I would be happy to be a member, if a committee could be formed. —I am, etc., E. HILL. Masterton, April 29. : ANZAC DAY OBSERVANCE (To the Editor.) Sir, —I should like to enter a protest ' against the desecration of Anzac Day, 1 arranged for Monday next, and I feel ’ little doubt that there - will be many " sympathisers with this point of view. We have been repeatedly told in the papers, presumably with the authority of the Government, that this day, April ' 25, was set aside in no sense as a day of leisure, but as one of reverent remem- ■ brance of the men who gave their lives ! for their country’s righteous cause in the last world war, and this reverence I must now be extended to those who are ■ doing so with the same heroism in this greater crusade against the powers of > evil —a day, in short, to give everyone an opportunity of showing this reverence by attending services arranged for f the purpose. That this opportunity : should coincide with a Sunday, and • Easter Sunday in particular, was very fitting, and should have satisfied the l feeling and needs of everyone. . It did not, apparently, so satisfy one labour • union, which, only a week after the ; four days' Easter holiday, claims the , right to down tools and put in a day’s idleness in any way preferred without any reference to the reason for which Anzac Day was instituted. It has been pleasant to learn from your paper since . this letter was begun that another union, which was reported to be acting

in the same way, is taking a more seemly view of the matter, for if a day of solemn remembrance became liable to this form of degradation, the observance of it were better discontinued. I am, etc., HONOUR THE BRAVE. Masterton, April 30. WAR OBLIGATIONS (To the Editor.) Sir, —I am a married woman with two children. My husband is overseas. I thought my lot pretty hard when he had to go until I saw a man and wife and three children drive into town in a trap, and his wife and family go home without him. I thought I wasn’t the worst off. The part that hurts is the single men still on farms and the dodgers that got married to try and save their skins, and are still getting married .... There are families around Master ton with sons, married and single, and sons-in-law, all in one family, successfully appealed for, and they do the town of Masterton every Wednesday and Friday. The manpower officers must be blind if they can’t see through them. Others have been drivers and garage attendants, even barmen, before the war, and are now essential farm workers. Farms have been bought, long since the war, and men appealed for to work them, and they get away with it on the blood of others. —I am, etc., . SOLDIER’S WIFE. The secretary of the Wairarapa Armed Forces Appeal Board, Mr G. F. Whitlock, states that men who have married since May, 1940, are still regarded as single as far as military obligations are concerned. —Ed. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT “FED-UP.” —You describe a serious state of affairs, but one that can be dealt with only by the presentation of authenticated evidence to the pol- j ice or the licensing authorities con- ' cerned. —Ed.