The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1944. EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 153, 30 June 1944, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1944. EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE

of sacrifice in war is an ideal for the realisation of which it is right to strive, but which in practice it is impossible to achieve. Especially in a country that is not subject to the bombing attacks of the enemy, there is and can be no proper comparison between the lot of the civilian and that of the serviceman in fighting units abroad. Proper comparison is still less possible between the civilian's lot and that of the serviceman who is killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Most people in New Zealand are aware of these facts, and are increasingly conscious of the contrast between their own lot and that of the soldiers and airmen who have been overseas for years. The feeling is common that the latter have done enoughp and should be replaced by those who, though fit, for various reasons have seen no service. Strong expression to this feeling has now been given by the conference of the Returned Services' Association. Although its members speak of equality of sacrifice they have the best of reasons, in their own experience, for knowing that this is impossible of achievement, but their resolution voices a conviction that much more should be done towards it. It declares that "in spite of repeated promises of a combing-out of Grade I. Category A men, there are still sufficient men in this class for an army division," and it calls on the Government to ensure that every Category A man serves overseas. It further declares that the Government has "not even attempted" to secure equality of sacrifice among fit men of military age. This accusation calls for an answer, and it is to be hoped that when it is given it will be a conclusive and satisfying one, for many people besides the members of the R.S.A. will study it. Unfortunately, the answer cannot be a simple one, for into it must enter considerations of the Dominion's military commitments, past and present, the probable course of the Avar, the Dominion's production commitments, the time that would be occupied in training a large number of Category A men, the shipping that would be needed for their transportation and the effect on existing military formations of their arrival to relieve or replace others long seasoned by battle experience. The R.S.A. conference in its resolution takes account of some of these factors, but not all of them. Yet all of them must be taken into account. The war is apparently entering its decisive stage. There is a possibility that by the end of the year the fighting will be over in Europe. It is only a possibility, and to convert it to a probability the Allies must sustain and increase their great efforts which they are making now. Necessarily they must make the best use of- the forces which they already have, either in action, or ready for action and easily available. The prospect appears to be that men who are still in civilian occupations cannot be called up, trained and transported to the battle zones in time to be of use. That appears to be the prospect. Whether it will be realised few can say. Among those few is the Prime Minister, now returning from a conference during which it is to be presumed that the military demands on New Zealand's manpower were discussed in relation to the demands for production. Nevertheless, although opinions on the question so sharply raised by the R.S.A. must be tentative, one can be expressed with certainty. If there is the need to send reinforcements to the Middle East, or to any other theatre, they should be drawn from the Category A men who have been longest exempt from military service. Provided this need exists, the demand of the R.S.A. that definite time limits should be given men in this class is unanswerable on anj'- ground of justice. Some' such men were doubtless irreplaceable at the outset, but there has been ample time since in which to train substitutes for many of them.