PRACTICAL WORK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2645, 16 December 1915, Page 6

PRACTICAL WORK

WAR QUESTIONS DISCUSSED CORRESPONDENTS' OPINIONS ' s - (To the Editor.) AN APPEAL. Sir,—As one of those who arc going to help to give our soldiers a merry Christmas time at the Soldiers' Room, 1 venture to appeal, through you, to everyone to help us. I' am not going to ask for money or anything that will cost money. We have many hundreds of soldiers passing through our room every week, and occasionally some — just a few—are intoxicated. One boy said, "I never drank till I came -into camp. First one chap and then another aske'd to shout me, and this is the result!" Another said, "It is this accursed drink that makes me as I am to-nightl" Yet another felt so disgraced and ashamed when the-ladies spoko kindly, to him that he slunk away and loft,the room. Oh, the sadness of it! , To come to my point-. I ask all to stop this shouting system; to think of the boys' mothers, wives, sweethearts, sisters, and all who are dear to them. All must admit that it is false kindness ' I may be criticised for writing this letter, which may call forth the remark that the soldier is not worse than the civilian. No, perhaps not. But the! difference is this—we are so proud of the soldier and what he has done, and is doing for ns, that wo feel doubly sorrowful when he falls. In his hour of strength he is weak. It. is our duty to do what we can to help him. —I am, '' JANET FIRTH. Wellington College. THANKS FROM THE OTACO BOYS. Sir, —On behalf of* the Otago (D Company) men in Trentham, kindly convey through your paper our grateful appreciation to Madam Monkman Dempster, Nurse Everett. Miss Maxwell, and all the other ladies who came out to our lines and gave us such a royal treat on Sunday. Our men for' the most part are from Otago and Southland, and have few friends in Wellington, and the ladies who staggered into camp under a load of delicacies a!nd entertained us, on Sunday last gave us a greater treat than we can ever thank them for—We are, etc., THE OTAGO Bo\'S. Trentham Camp, December 13. ACTION V. TALK, A PRACTICAL OFFER, j' Sir,—l have been waiting to see if anything has been done with regard to better organising tho different eocieties providing things for our men at the front and hospitals, as a result of meeting held Tuesday last, and as reported in your issuo of Wednesday, but up to the present I cannot find that anything has been dono, and as these things I think should be done quickly, I venture to ask that the matter should bo proceeded with, with all speed. I am 6uro wo are not getting tho best results from any of the societies at work at present. It is all very well to meet and pass resolutions. Quite right, and the meeting held is in tho right direction, but I am sorry to think ,too much time is allowed to lapse betwoen meeting and talking about, organising, and acting? I 'should like to. have seen a date given. when the resolution would be,put in practice, and not left merely ■to some future date. How long ? I should like to have seen the-iiames of some of the prominent business men of Wellington in connection «;itli tho scheme, as I am afraid there is a great want of business control on a good many of the committees, and that there is a Jot of good -working material run-, ning to waste which coi\ld bo. used in the making and preparing the articles required, also that there may be, and ■probably is, a'considerable difference in the price paid for material and what it could be bought for. I feel that the societies are not opening their arms wide enough to admit all tlie workers they could get. | There are hundreds of good workers in Wollington who I am sure would bo only too glad to give time, 'and "what is ol equal value, i.e.,' experience, in the production of all tho articles required. I am sure there are dozens of workers who know their business who would be pleased to help for a couple of hours 111 the evening twice or three times a week. But are they given a lead or are they oven welcome? I mean real business girls who would turn out twice or three times the work that amateurs would do in the same time. I noticed in the report of the meeting several ladies were very anxious to know_ if they were likely to loko their individuality in the now move. Why? What does it matter about the individual as long as the desired «nd is reached quickly ? But I am afraid 'there is too much of tho individual wanting all the glory and wanting to pick and choose what they will or wliat they will not do. I don't believe in finding fault without a cause and trying to-find a remedy. But to show I have reason to find fault I may say tliat about May 22 I offered to place my workroom wltli motor-driven machines, also my own services, at the disposal of one of the leading committees, but up till now the offer liaß not been accepted. About two months ago 1 took 6ome thinpfi to the St. John Ambulance, Belcher's' Buildings. I did not meet with, well, not quite the nicest greflting, but tho second lady I saw was all that a lady should be. But here I saw they were cutting out garments singly. I offered my services as a cutter, free of cost, of course, "as in the other oaso, but still nothing doing, no notioe_ taken. And; yet I think I can-cut quite as well as teome, so that if they to accept tho work of an experienced man, what chance bas the ordinary outsider? And they cannotTEe getting the best results. I would suggest that a small committee of real businoss men conneoted with the trade should be elected who would supervise the buying of materials, and arrange to supply the different societies from a central depot. (The several societies could retain their individuality.) I am afraid that a big proportion of the buying is done at a few (shops although all are asked to subscribe. A list of all garments wanted should be in the hands of the central control, and tlhe garments given out and taken in at t'lie central room. Please don't think I condemn all the workers; far from it, but I tbink the controlling influence is not. of tho very best, I have seen some of the most wonderful garments turnpd out, and even been on show, hut I have no doubt worker did the host she knew. Notwithstanding. I am still at,the disposal of n practical bodv and willing to do the best I cari'for the causp'of our men at the front, and in hospital.—l am, etc., ' J. MORRISON. Wellington, December 14. A PERMANENT BAND. Sir,—l heartily endorse Mr. Leslie Jones's letter which appeared in vour issuo of the 11th, re a permanent brass baud at Trontham. I have had 25 years' experience of brass bands—from sidedrummer to- conductor—and therefore know something about the business. In my opinion a permanent band in jjoiroaont canyj is iusfc sji Mowfe.

ant as instructors, and from a recruiting standpoint a permanent band is an absolute necessity.

Only this morning a batch of recruits marched past my ofiicc, and they wcro doing their best to encourage one another wit'h cheers, etc. Now, supposing there had been 'a permanent Jiawl at Trentham, and they had been sent in to march tho. recruits through the streets of Wellington—what an electrifying effect that would have had upon tlie people hero. It is impossible to get the bandmaster to get* a good band together for every reinforcement that goes in, but I can back Mr. Jones's statement when ha says tlhat there are numbers of old bandsmen in New Zealand who would be quite proparcd to do fatigue work at Trentham and thus free able-bodied men for the front, while at the same time they would bo members of tho permanent band, and availablo for any function that they would be required for. It is impossible, as Mr. Jones says, to expect tho Regimental, or other bands to do this, work and I submit that thft matter is of very great importance and if the hand is formed and used aright it should be one of the biggnsst recruiting mediums that it would be possible to get.—l am etc. H. G. HILL. 14th December 1915. SHIRKERS AND NATIONAL' SERVICE. Sir, —As a constaut reader of your daily paper, I would like you to grant me a littlo space, re Mr. Allen and his brave army of shirkers. I refer to the thousands of singlo men who aro fit for military 'duty, but at the same time refuse to do anything. Mr. Allen wants to know what JlO can do with them. Now, my remedy is this: By the result of the A T ational Register, tho voice of the people is shown to bo undoubtedly with him, so strike whilo tho iron is hot, and bring in conscription. No doubt Mr. Allen not do this on his own initiative, but he could at least start the ball rolling. Mr. Allen, however, seems •to be quite content to let things remain as thoy are, no doubt relying on the splendid' response he has received from the married men. ' But surely he does not expect them to 'go and leave home, wife, and daughters, to the tender mercy of tho shirkers, for any man who,has not got spirit enough to protect his country, sisters, or tho woman who boro him, cannot be trusted with any responsibility. 1 .No, Mr. Allen should get conscription and call these slackers among the first. No one knows how this war is going to end, as the Home authorities still see fit to throw awayi. valuable lives at the Dardanelles for 110 good purpose. Then, again, as long as Rumania sits on the fence, and Greece plays with the Allies, as»she is doing, we don't know yet whether Salonika is only another doath-trap for our bravo boys whenever the Kaiser is ready to spring it, 60 the sooner we realise tho true position the better for all concerned, and that can only be done by sending men and more men'to . get it over. Of course Mr. Allen will say that conscription is unBritish, but' I think .it is time this schoolboy talk was done away with now, for in this struggle we are fighting for our very existenoo against' a foe that haa:no soruples, so if we don't want to be left, well, we eliall have to be up'and make every post a winning post. Thanking you for the time and space you have so kindly allowed me, I am one of the married men who is ready to do his bit.—f am, etc., RJj.Y. Fielding. fAlr. Alien, we believe, is sot one of those who regard national service as "un-British" or objootionablo in any way at a time like tho present.] A PLEA FOR THE SHIRKERS. Sir,—l write in reference to the indignation at there being 32,400 in the country who do not think that the battlefield settles anything. The fact is lost .sight of that- no person governs his opinions, but; that tho opinion governs tho boing, and that tlnj being'is nothing but a tool or a victim to his convictions. Intolerance only gives the intolorant's side of the caso away, for there is 110 philosophy in same, but such is only the outcome, of habit, craze, and disease. To. talk of getting .. quits' with the "3?,400'is as, bad as .advocating persecuting a person for being born blind, and seems as if we are reverting to the days, when the unbelievers had boiling hot load poured down their throats for being such— I. am, etc., BE PHILOSOPHICAL.