Equal Obligations For All

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 109, 1 February 1940, Page 11

Equal Obligations For All

Sir, —On Sunday evening I listened with interest to Air. Savage’s address* appealing to our young men to join up in the cause of freedom. It was the best address that he has given us. but I wonder how he can reconcile it with his conscience to send the flower of New Zealand’s young manhood to face danger and perhaps death for the cause of liberty, while pacifists, shirkers, cowards and Communists are left to go their ignoble ways in safety. We have had a striking example of National Socialism in the Nazi Government, and of Communism in the Government of Russia, both of which have shown ruthless cruelty and barbarism such as have never before been known. Air. Savage is right when he says that the man who volunteers makes a better spldier than the conscript, but that is no reason why the shirkers should get off service. Every decent man without children, and under 40, will naturally offer his services, and the undesirables, who escape service owing to the neglect of the Government to carry out their professed principles of equal duties for all, will naturally support tlffe party who give them the excuse for shirking.—l am, etc., RETURNED SOLDIER. Wellington, January 30.