THE CALL FOR ECONOMY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2551, 27 August 1915, Page 8

THE CALL FOR ECONOMY.

Sir, —I rejoice to seo that several of your correspondents re-echo the deep noto of warning uttored by Sir RobertStout when sentencing two prisoners quite recently, when Hjs Honour's remarks wero peculiarly pertinent at tie present juncture. .Tho learned Chief Justice emphasised tlio urgent necessity for economy, a fact which many appear to forget, and that everyone had to save for tho future. Leadors of thought in England, as well as in Australia, have drawn repeated attention to tlio financial requirements- for tlio upkeep of tho forces at the front and their Tegular reinforcement. ' Either Germany must be' defeated ,or we shall suffer defeat, and, unless every supremo effort is put forward, we shall suffer defeat. "Every man, every shilling, every weapon,. is wanted." The words aro not mine; I quote from that far-seeing prophet and forceful writer, Robert Blatchford,' whoso predictions a decade ago excited so littlo attention and yet havo been so muoli more than fulfilled. Can wo bo said to bo sending every man when tho authorities refuse to accept able-bodied men of past experience merely because they aro a little over 40 years of age? Can wo bo said to bo providing every. shilling when the hotels nightly disgorge ■ their selfish clientele at closing time just as though wo were living in normal times Sir Robert Stout said- that. unfortunately wo have no example'set us in this country. His Majesty the KingBet a noble example at Home; but tlio Legislature in New Zealand deliberately ignored tlio Royal example by deciding to continue the sale of liquor at Bellamy's when an excellent opportunity presented itself of setting the local example the lack of which Sir Robert Stout deplores. Every penny spent in alcoholic liqvJor, every iihrepeimy. or sixpenny piece spent in the übiquitous picture show or variety entertainment, every halfpenny spent in anything not absolutely necessary at the present time, is sheer waste of money which might be spent profitably on behalf of the Empire to which we owe our boasted freedom. It is a poor tribute to tlie intelligence of a people that' they can pay for and laugh hilariously at'childish "Charlie Chaplin" characterisations, while their nearest of kin aro nobly laying down their lives for the State and enduring sufferings > which are. greater than mere imagination can conceive, sufferings which could be assuaged by the expenditure of the money so selfishly wasted. Are some people bereft of feelings of common humanity? Without in any way indicating my own ideas of the incidence of a war tax, I caknot lefraui torn Remarking that "exploiters" of'the public,- especially in food stuffs, should not be'allowed to escape their just share of the burden falling to Ncw_ Zealand's lot, and those who waste their'money should be. made to disgorge to the extent to' which they so selfishly ignore their responsibilities.—l am, etc:, . PERCIVAL B. WADDY.Wellington, August, 25; 1915. [This letter has been condensed.] MACHINE-GUNS. Sir, —According to an announcement made in tlio House by Mr. Allen, tlio 'Imperial Government is unablo to supply tho Dominion with machine-guns also America and Canada say the same. This places us during our anxiety to have' our troops provided with tho weapon in an awkward position, and yet one fancies if our Government' approached our littlo friends. and Allies the Japanese, if it lay in r their power a supply might be forthcoming; No time - -should 'be . lost in trying every avenue to get' the article. Some might object to the Dominion obtaining them from that quarter, but there are other things more objectionable often iii view. For instance, today on the Waikanao- Station was an open, case with return medicine, bottles and jars going to town, the result ofthe breaking up of the ■ camp—large glassy bottles' prominently labelled "Formalin —Berlin." However, sir, there would be no harm in tlying to get the goods from Japan.—l am, etc., HENRY WALTON. Waikanae, August 21, 1915. [The Defence Minister was- asked whether he had considered the possibility of obtaining machine-guns from Japan, and ho replied that lie had had the mattor under consideration. Ho intended to communicate with tho Army Council on the subject.. "Ho would not communicate direct with Japan.] CIFT MACHINE-GUNS, Sir,—l see by this, morning's issue that tho offer of machine-guns for the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces is not accepted. I would beg to suggest that fie money be expended in providing a few of these very necessary weapons to our National Reserve, which body will urgently need some. : I am given to' understand that 'America would bo glad to. supply arms of any sort if paid for them. Wo have, by means of tho National Resorvo, to provide against possible, not necessarily probable, attack.—l am, etc., HONORARY NATIONAL RESERVIST [As we understand the position, it is that the guns-at present are-not procurable. All- that aro obtainable in England or America are being sccured by the Imperial suthorities for tlio troops in France and at Gallipoli.]