SHIRKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 231, 28 September 1915, Page 9

SHIRKERS.

(To the Editor.) Sir.—One of your correspondents, •jjining himself "Native," take* exception to the misuse of tho word shirker. I think that moat people vriH agree a* to the meaning of the word "shirker" as applied to present day rimimstanoc*, viz., "One who deliberately faUs to do hi* duty." Whether that duty is to help his country in the firing line or stand by hia dependents at borne, is the question that is causing a lot of trouble- Some men would be leaving themselves open to be called • hirkem U they enlisted and left their dependents to fend for themselves, for It is often far harder to stay at home than tn 30 to the front All this, of course, applies to men who are physically fit. Tα K.iy of any man "be ought to go," without knowing his circumstances, in to run the risk of doing 4 gm«t injuatior. But Uiat there arc; itany em who hive no genuine rettori for not enlisting, but who etill hold backj ie only too apparent. Most of them have reason*. But such reasons. Some sip "My girl won't let mc." (I've heard H said myself.) Others nay they are to f?e.t married. Some say, "Oh, yr»j -we may all have to go *oon, hut Wβ are not needed yet." How can these, who having only the above reasons, escape being called "•hirkers"? Hidin? behind women's * kilts, what else art] they! Do the women of France, Ruwia, Italy. IVhrium, hold back their husbands »nd «w*ethearu»? And I won't believe tint the women of New Zealand wish to do so. Certainly those of Great Britain, have not done so. And *» for the mcc who cay "We are not needed yet," let them reid what Lloyd George, Kitchener and our other Empire leader* say, and then »cc if they can, say "Wβ are not needed." It is because every German i man. woman and child says and think* "My country ne#da mc," that the might of Britain, France and Ruuia need* to be exerted to the utmost to bold them back. That such patriotism, no misdirected, and a tragedy in itself, in supporting a weak cause does not concern our argument. Were every able, bodied man in the British Empire to *ay "My country need* mc," and art on it, the result would nave our country much suffering in the long run. While there are men failing in their dnty, the word '•shirker" -will live and be fgt Wti such. —I am, etc., ie^OSS.