RECRUITS WANTED

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22823, 23 September 1939, Page 8

RECRUITS WANTED

TO THE BOITOB Of THE PRESS. Sir,—You are no doubt aware of the old qaying that “the pen is mightier than the sword”; you probably believe it, too. Certainly the pain of/your penthrust in your leading article to-day, “Recruits Wanted” will have caused, and will cause to many who read it for themselves, much greater pain than would-the sword thrust of; an enemy. You have, quite unwittingly no doubt, been most unfair to a very large section of the young men of our country. “Who art thou that judgest another?’ Who are you to suggest that the many young . married men with wives and children who have enlisted are more right in their action, or more worthy of our honour,; than very .many who have given very earnest thought to this matter, and yet cannot see their way to enlist as volunteers? Mr Walter Nash, as reported to-day in your paper, has quite rightly said “that it might happen that it (New Zealand) could best help by growing grass." . And later he said; “There were millions of pounds made in this country because the soldiers ware away. The plain facts are that people who stayed behind made minions of pounds, during the war.'* Wo all know from the former of these statements -that the -Government has not yet made up Its mind, and that it will he extremely difficult for the present Gove'rnment to- bring w conscription, but nevertheless; ,there are many people, both young aqd old, who believe that this is the correct thins to do, and the fairest ;We also knpw inat • many young men wlU.be conscientious objectors. Do your editorial remarks refer to these? If so. they are very unworthy, -v- , - There are then three classes of young men in New Zealand, and all three of them deserve our honour and not unpleasant insinuations or editorial abuse. The first' class, those who-ate ready to enlist , and have done so. The second class, and probably by ,far the most ;numerousr*tnOse who will serve and .do their . best if required to do so, after -.the* decision: made by the*, powers that be. The third class, those who will r«use to fight, believing in the words, of a manifesto signed by many clergy and. others, and published in “The : Press” on September 6 or 7. “that, war ?is contrary to, the spirit and teaching of Jesus Christ. This .belief cannot bo; abandoned even m these nioments of crisis. Can anyone..with a,-sense, of .fairness say .of any of men in classes two and three,-that they have; to.face: an unpleasant ■to contemplate,"or tion of your- article, those who. failed to face a hard -and Possibly dangerous duty, and that they shirked It? No, H you are, to wield your pen ; in s this cause of justice and righteousness, you, must be wst. For my >own : P« r V T believe tha! therefore just as many who will honour. ,th& men vtfio have conscientious scruples ‘ah«J 'religious donvictjons, just as much-- as they honour the men who may have none. Any man of any of these three classes, deserves /our honour. Men, who have to be abused into being soldiers, are not vol-unteers,--Voars, etc*,- -• ••<■■■- ONE OF IyIANY WHO, THINK. - . September' 32. .1939. - '