WAR EFFORT DRIVE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23003, 24 April 1940, Page 7

WAR EFFORT DRIVE

TO THE EDITOit O* THE PRESS. Sir,—Much to my regret I was unable to attend the meeting held on Monday night to consider the question of recruiting. ~ , . T As the owner of a small business I suggest that the best possible way .to encourage sacrifice on the part of the young men of Christchurch is for the business community to lead the way by offering a substantial percentage of their profits towards the war effort. Until they themselves have proved that they are prepared to suffer they are not entitled to ask others to do so. I am prepared to join in any mass movement in this direction, but have not the slightest intention of being one of a few. I note that the suggestion was made that school children should ask their brothers why they had not enlisted. The mentality behind this suggestion is hard to understand. Can anyone imagine a small boy asking his big brother such a question, and would the results encourage recruiting? My name may, at your discretion, be given to any responsible person inquiring.—Yours, etc., 6/3193. April 23. 1940. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—ln—this morning’s paper you publish a report of the Christchurch Recruiting ; Committee meeting. The whole’meeting constituted itself into a War Effort Committee anu decided..to examine suggestions made at the meeting. The suggestions made one think of the waifs in Germany. Fancy asking New Zealand children to go -home and

taunt their brothers. Surely they can leave the children out of it. Another suggestion was to ask employers to tell fit men they must enlist or lose their jobs. At the present time enlistment is voluntary and no one has the right to tell another to enlist. If they do, how can it be voluntary. Let the committee work for recruiting by all means. Surely it can do so without asking children and young women to do the dirty work. —Yours, etc., BE FAIR. April 23. 1940. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —Reading the report of Monday t night’s recruiting meeting we find that typical suggestions were that employers should warn all employees fit for military service that if they do not enlist they will be discharged and that school children should be taught to go home and' ask their brothers why they have not enlisted. These words spoken by a Nazi would rouse our democratic blood. Spoken by a Christchurch businessman they pass for patriotic sentiments. Mrs Bennet was the only speaker at the meeting who, having no fish to fry, made an enlightened speech. I add my voice to her voice crying in the wilderness. Instead of allowing the soldier to carry 99 per cent, of the burden of war I suggest that those at home split it fifty-fifty. During the last war some firms paid members of their staff on active service half pay and discharged temporary workers to give them their jobs back. Those firms will probably do it anain, but if one can do it, why not all? All we ask is that the nation’s war effort should become a reality, instead of the shameful sham it is at present.—Yours, etc., 3rd ECHELON RECRUIT, April 23, 1940.