The Press. Friday, January 14, 1916. The Prime Minister's Appeal.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15487, 14 January 1916, Page 6

The Press. Friday, January 14, 1916. The Prime Minister's Appeal.

The manifesto which the Primo Minister has issued to the people of New Zealand will.be misunderstood if it is not read as a real and urgent warning of the magnitude of the danger that threatens New Zealand, as well as tho Empire, and that can be averted only by courage and energy on the part of all. There is not, wo afraid, 'n this country, quite the same keen and determined spirit that animates the people of Britain —a result of our distance from the war, our prosperity. and our security. If people hero havo not realised what German domination would mean for them —and what it would mean Mr Massey sets forth in terms that are not exaggerated —then nothing can rouse them. They do realise it, however, but German domination is unthinkable to the average New Zealander —unthinkable and impossible. Yet it is not impossible. Were the people of Britain animated by the comfortablo and easy-going spirit that makes it so difficult to arouse some New Zealandcrs. to a sense of their duty of labour and sacrifice; our Empire would be destroyed.' In the Mother Country the war is absorbing 1 the thoughts of everyone, and the nation is making immense and increasing efforts to crush the enemy. Her efforts will be successful in tho end, but that is not a reason why New Zealanders should take tho war easily and philosophically. Britain needs our aid, and the greater aid of Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Even if the assistance we can render were negligible—and the fighting on Gallipoli and in Egypt shows that it <s not negligiblo-r-national self-respect

and national honour would still require that 110 assistance "which this country can give should be withheld. "We cannot do much more, unhappily, than send forward regular supplies of fighting men, and these we must send forward so long as the war lasts. The Prime Minister very properly stresses the individual responsibility of each man who can bear arms, and whose obligations to his King are actually greater than his obligations to helpless people dependent upon him. Whether a man's immediate duty is to enlist is in most cases easily enough determined. Mr Masser says in effect that every man of military age really l;no\vs whether or not he should join the Army. \V® believe this is perfectly true, and wo believe that maqv men are hanging back because they are afraid to face the command their consciences would deliver to thcni. The time is approaching. however, when every man will hav e to face his conscience fairly, and we believe that the result will be a demonstration that voluntaryism will see us through the war. A majority of the nation is certainly in favour of universal service, but it has been tacitly agreed that voluntaryism must Lie fairly tested, and retained if it is adequate to the country's needs. But its retention is obviously dependent upon the honourable dis?harge of their duty by the men to whom Mr Massey's manifesto is specially addressed.