CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 156, 3 July 1940, Page 6

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS.

WHY FRANCE FAILED. (To the Editor.) It was as one of the much abused pleasure-loving public that I replied to Mr. Gainor Jackson's first letter, in. tending a mild protest against the sort of thing that has been popular all through history. One of the most useful weapons of tyranny has been organised religion by means of which the people have been labelled godless, pleasure-lov-ing, ignorant, etc. What brutalities have been inflicted by this weapon history makes abundantly clear. It w»» because I saw in Mr. Jackson's remark* a survival of the use of this lash that I replied to his letter. In view of Mr. Jackson's further letter I desire to protest against an attitude which at the present time can only be regarded as disruptive. Unity is required now, and it can be achieved only by the exercise of mutual respect among all sections of the community. Above all, there should be a complete absence of the opening of sores. Why does Mr. Jackson wave so persistently this red rag of the 40-hour week? Does he not realise that this is a prize towards which the working classes have struggled from the dawn of history and that its retention is one of the things that lends enthusiasm among the Hvorkers in their war against Hitler? Neither is this the time to speak disparagingly of socialists. Does Mr. Jackson fail to realise that the destinies of this country are at the moment in the keeping of a socialist Government commanding the overwhelming confidence of the country ? He may feel that that is the one reason why he should miss no opportunity to alter such a state of affairs. Perhaps so — but not juet now. W. M. BARTON.