ARMY RECRUITS PRAISED

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27739, 17 August 1955, Page 7

ARMY RECRUITS PRAISED

Sir, —As a former military trainee, I feel insulted by the letter of “No More War Preparations.” I' was conscripted at the age of 18, according to the will of the majority of New Zealand electors, and subjected to a course of fairly rigorous training. After it, I was physically better and morally no worse than when I went in. I certainly object to being -classed as a “potential, ruthless, remorseless killer.” • We were taught obedience and discipline, and very little 'of “violence and murder.” If anything, the demonstrations which we received in the arts of warfare only served to emphasise the necessity for avoiding their future use. I wonder whether “No More War Preparations” deprecated the services of our Expeditionary Force 15 years ago? It occurs to me that perhaps this correspondent could have prevented much bloodshed at that time by writing appropriately wooded letters to the Japanese Government and other places.—Yours, etc., ONE OF THEM. August 16, 1955.

PARLIAMENTARY SALARIES Sir, —In “The of Saturday, “Citizen” writes that a minority Tory Government is in power simply because the Social Credit section of the National Party split the vote. If Social Credit were a section of the National Party, it would merely be taking some of the* National votes. “Citizen” apparently thinks that the repetition of a lie will convince voters but Mr Holland has repeatedly disowned any connexion with Social Credit; in fact, Social Credit is miles ahead of the obsolete financial policies of both Labour and National and it augurs well for Social Credit when all Labour can do is use the parrot cry of its being a section of the National Party. If •'Social Credit'were in office, pensioners would now be receiving £5 a week minimum and parliamentarians would receive emolup, ments <in proportion, without further taxation or borrowing, but simply by using Reserve Bank money.—Yours, etc., F. W. STEVENS. August 16, 1955.

Sir—May I ask Mr Holland if he will afford the workers the same privilege as he has gjven himself and his colleagues, in appointing their own commission to increase salaries and allowances. The workers have to fight every inch of the way even to get justice, and if they were allowed to appoint their own commission, they, too, might get £lloo. Yours, etc. ONE OF THE WORKERS. August 16, 1955.

BOARDS, CIRCLES, TRUSTS, ETC. Sir, —The* answer to all these concerns is very simple. If thev can prove conclusively that their way is the cheapest to supply the consumers then by all means let us have more of these boards, etc. What stupidity! All these middle men and their staffs got to have a rake-off at the expense of the consumer. We are paying too much for the produce grown in our country. The writer is not surprised at direct action, much as he dislikes the procedure.—Yours, etc., August 15, 1955. AM '