ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

New Zealand Tablet, 8 July 1915, Page 29

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Importunate. Though by no means without merit, the lines ‘To the Sacred .Heart ’ are not up to publication standard. The general idea is good, but the style is ambitious, and the necessary high level is not sustained. Patriotic Irishman.— As it is now several weeks since the cable about the 300 Irishmen appeared, and as no one has taken it at all seriously, it is perhaps hardly necessary to open a discussion on the matter. With your concluding sentence every reader will agree : ‘Our earth is of large dimensions and Ireland is only a. small spot on the great planet, so let Ireland’s traducers vary things a little, and turn their attention to some other country ; and if they go into the thing in earnest they will surely find elsewhere plenty of scope for their energies.’ F. W. 8., Christchurch.—You are quite mistaken. We have never ‘ advocated ’ conscription or compulsory service • we have never so much as expressed an opinion on the subject. J. J. M.—The Waikato editor was not specially responsible for the publication of the item to which you refer, as it was sent out as part of the official news,, and has been widely published in Australian and New Zealand papers. The paragraph is certainly open to exception in point of taste and tone, but it was not meant offensively.