TO YOUNG MEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 32, 5 July 1939, Page 5

TO YOUNG MEN

;; • ■ . AN INSISTENT CALL . - - ( j ! \ YOUR UNIFORM IS READY REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD ACCEPT The call is out for young men of the Dominion to enlist for the defence of their country. The Government of the day is urging this witlr. all the earnestness it can put into it. Why? Because the shadow of war hangs brooding over the world. 11l spite of hopes that a peaceful sol'u- ! tion of world difficulties can be found I there is a steadily growing conviction that certain European powers ! will not be satisfied until they have plunged, the world into war. And this time if war comes New Zealand may not be immune. What* then—will an invader find his fcask easy because he will only be corr-» fronted by a disorderly rabble, or will he find that a trained army, versed in the use of modern armsr stands grimly determined that h0 shall not pass. That is why every fit man in this Dominion is being urged to train. It ■ is no use in the world waiting for war to come before deciding to Soil* up. Men who wait till then will only be a hindrance instead of a help. The trained men will count because U«» will understand the meaning of discipline and cohesion. THE POSITION IN WHAKATANE In Whakatane many young meu have already answered the call to their eternal credit. But there ar» many more who are wavering. They feel it is giving up a few hours of? leisure; that drill and instructioi* and discipline are irksome things—and anyhow the other fellow is doing, it so why should he be bothered. ' . But that is not facing reality. The young fit men who to-day shirks be_ hind his more determined bribther i« doing so because he has refused «•«* look ajt facts in the face T Has he si mother, a sister, or a sweethearts If not for himself then y is he entitled to defend thfem—his own woiAenfoik, his owft kith intT kin. qan in Whakatane staxitl $4bVcly that he would not fight tq the l£st ounce of his blood that his womenfolk should be spared the horrors of war? Tf he looks back over the history of his own family he must see l'L»it his ancestors were made of sterner stuff. Can he let them down? When " a man insures a buildiui* against fife, he hopes and prays that n fire may never com", but l»e is prepared if it does. So when a - mark trains for defence, he does not do it believing war is inevitable, but if it does come he will not be a babe J** arms. HEED THE CALL It is the earnest request of tftfe Government that men in Whalt&t&'Vg should,hear this call to a rms - J 0 ! 11 U P; and learn that life is fuller and more joyous in the knowledge tliat you art* being trained, so that if danger does threaten you can manfully do your bit. For after all military training ia not irksome, or tedious or dull. G«* the contrary it adds a zest to life» makes one physically and mentally alert, dcvelopes keenness and comradeship and, last but not lcast~* builds character. THE LONG VIEW Supposing the. waverer takes the long view and thinks that if war didi actually :,corae_ death" might be his position, What then? Throughout the Hong history of the British race men ihave gladly given their lives, for as Kipling stands if freedom fall, who dies if "England lives. Substitute if you like New Zealand for England, and you have the meaning. But if timidness should be the rea_ son for not joining up, think of gooiS okl Horatio in Macnulev's poem who, before going into battle, and knowing that he might not come out again said: "And how can man die better, Than facing fearful odds. For the ashes of his fathers, And the templns of h?s gods." So young man the call is definitiilv out. Will you answer it. Will you! train? Will you prove your manhood, your love of counlrv, youir home and s'tovir loved ones. Then joi?i up. "701bs of fat banished in 14 weeks" Try Bonkora,. Pleasant, cniick, safe. F. G. Macklow, Whakatane