REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25870, 1 August 1949, Page 2

REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN

Sir.—The complacency of the “antis” in this referendum business is. truly amazing. Undeterred by what nas happened in the past they still seem to thipk that no action is better than any action, and thus view the future with rose-tinted spectacles and conveniently forgetting that isolation saved them in* the First World War but owing to this “speed age” rapid development, it was necessary for the United States to save them in the second. Their slogan “Conscription means War” is contrary to fact; for if Britain had been a conscripted country, neither of those wars would have eventuated. It was unpreparedness in the full sense of the term that brought the world to such chaos and fnisery as exists at present.—Yours, etc.. O. M. BRUNDALL July 30, 1949.

Sir, —Suppose conscription is carried, pacifists, conscientious objectors, etc.. I know will have to go into training. If, later, war is declared, what happens to them? Do they still stay at home, and accept all the privileges and advantages of this fair country? They say they do not believe in war. I ask you who does? —Yours, etc., (MISS) A. M. BOWKER. [Mr Fraser has stated that conscientious objectors may appeal to a tribunal against military training.— Ed., “The Press.”!

Sir. —Regarding the conscription issue, only one question need, I think, be considered. Will the measure, if passed and put into operation, act as a deterrent to war or the reverse? That is a very difficult question for New Zealanders to answer. The facts are that both Great Britain and the United States have adopted it, not by referendum, it is true, but it hardly seems likely that there can have been any great volume of public opinion against it. So far as I can learn there is little opposition to the measure in Britain, the people apparently regarding it as necessary. Without suggesting that we should copy the above-mentioned countries in general. I do think that in this matter the British. who have suffered so much, and with their vast experience, are much 1 better able to judge of the need than we are.—Yours, etc., GEORGE INGRAM July 29, 1949. Sir, —In this false age it is not often that the voice of Nature is heard in connexion with current events; but Nature has a voice! In the vicinity of our majestic Southern Alps recently. I was thinking on the referendum campaign and a voice from the mountains seemed to say: If massive mountains shook their sides and laughed. And spat upon the earth in fiendish glee. If savage waters sprang from ocean depths. And sucked away the land into the sea; If winds in frenzied rapture tore the world From end to end and scattered gusty death. If crimson streaks of sunset, lit with fire. Were used to heat their devastating breath; ( How then would man in self-defence engage And quell the rage of maddened might untold? Think, little man, how mighty you are not. Think of the farce, by Greater Power controll’d! Yours, etc., KENNETH LOW. July 30, 1949.