RECRUITING

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23004, 26 April 1940, Page 15

RECRUITING

TO THE EDITOR OT THE PRESS. Sir, —As a former staff officer in New Zealand during the last war upon my retiring from Gallipoli in 1916, I had to deal with recruiting for an area covering-—on a population basis—onethird of New Zealand. I desire to congratulate you upon your leading article in "The Press” of Wednesday. April 24.—Yours etc., (Major) W. E. S. FUHBY. April 25. 1940,

TO THE EDITOR OR THE PRESS. Sir, —As 9 mother cf a son in the Ist Echelon, may I express my opinion as to the lack of enthusiasm for recruiting. I was the proud mother of a son who, against his employer’s wishes and his own natural pacifist views, did not hesitate to answer the call to defend his country. My pride has been one long anxiety, and regret is around the Corner. Many others must feel the same, and it hurts deeply. When we hear other young men say they will not leave their positions for insecurity. I do not blame them when I realise what has to be faced by those left at home. Yes, 1 consider freedom is worth fighting for, but how can our boys put their best into their huge task while worrying about home. They know that bright letters only cover the worry. My son was told on enlisting that assistance regarding insurance, etc., would be forthcoming, as he realised his army pay was insufficient to meet his liabilities, helping his home and saving for his return. I applied for assistance after five months of battling against odds, and though that was more than two months ago. I have had no reply. My son was trained and sent overseas in three months, yet it takes more than two months to give consideration to his greatest problem. If a soldier was paid £4 a week, his dependants would not be subjected to this unnecessary delay, worry, and the humiliation of others deciding whether they should or should not be in a position to pay their way. My son was having an insurance policy adjusted when war was declared. The insurance company, without any justification. made the policy subject to war risk, and sent the policy at Christmas time, when my son was unable to attend to it before sailing. It has taken close on four months to have. that policy corrected. Now comes word from my son that he had to pay 8s duty on a parcel from home. With £1 Is a week, I am wondering how much he will have left after he pays duty on the regular parcels v/e are sending him. He has suggested that I enclose money for the duty. I admire the efforts of the Patriotic Council in sending parcels to our boys, but our boys also like to receive personal parcels from home, and surely these personal parcels could be forwarded through the Patriotic Council’s channels until such time as our Government is able to arrange about the duty. One cannot even dispose of a .soldier’s assets at a reasonable figure and'-' here again unjust sacrifice la expected. In conclusion, it must be plain to the authorities that many parents are unable to support the patriotic appeal, for no other reason than that they themselves are severely handicapped, because of their sons’ enlisting, and I would suggest, that herein lies one of the main reasons why so many young men prefer to remain home.—Yours, etc., BE FAIR. April 23, 1940.