THE GALL OF DUTY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2462, 15 May 1915, Page 3

THE GALL OF DUTY.

Sir, —These are strenuous times; times when maps are being altered, when agreements are being altered, and sometimes broken. Times when the character of peoples religious and civil are being altered—because of the war. There has never been a war _ till this one, the other ixmflicts were skirmishes, the number of men engaged, tho munitions used, the whole aspect, the number of nations concerned. Before this war everything else sinks in insignificance. In New Zealand what are we doing? We are very small, but I think generally speaking, rather earnest in our endeavours. Men realise, and women too, that this is a time of sacrifice, but so far not many hare made much sacrifice. I, of course, do not allude to those whose sons have gone, families of four or five sons who are now in tho firing line, nothing can equal this. Gifts of money are not, of course, to be compared with gifts of flesh and blood. And what of those who are found wanting—parents who dissuade their sons from volunteering, parents who have told their sons that if they go, they go for good out of the family. Can anything bo more ignoble?

have apparently utterly failed to realise their responsibilities, have allowed their sons to remain behind and let others shed their blood, so that they can remain, and eat the bread of idleness.

This class, if conscription .is not brought in—and many expect it willivill have to hang their heads in shame, be marked men, poltroons and cowards,

who are not worthy of having the rights of citizenship conferred on them, who ought to be disfranchised for generations. as the breed is one we in this country do not want perpetuated. Better for those to say: I was slow in go'ing, but thank God I went—l am, IN DUTY BOTJND.