CASE FOR THE MARRIED MEN

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 126, 29 May 1915, Page 9

CASE FOR THE MARRIED MEN

TO THD BDITOR. Sir,— 'l cannot help taking exoeption to the tone of your correspondent's letter in to-night's petition of your paper headed "To Stimulate Recruiting." This letter, if read together with the letter signed "Veritas," needs some further remarks. I am one of many unfortunate individuals with a family of seven children to keep, oldest under fourteen years old, and out of employment (other than casual). For «omq months past I have been patiently waiting to secure one of many positions rendered vacant by some who are serving at the front By the answers I have received from many sources the positions remain vacant, for reasons chiefly that, business does pot warrant the position being filled. This answer must be perfectly reasonable, and does not warrant the innuendo implied by " Verity," or is the cost of living to go up more by the axpense of a fully-manned staff for a less output? This, I and others have realised for some time; but I do think it time men situated as I am must wake up, and I sincerely hope that our employers will realise that there are many married men in our midst badly needing positions before they take advantage of employing girls who in many instances are not required to work. Personally, I must admire the patriotic spirit of our girls, but your correspondent does not realisethe position existing just now viz., married men out of employment, married men working reduced houns, and the cost of living getting higher erery day, I certainly have not the heart or conscience to even suggest that we oust the single men from their nositions, driving them to fight our battles to keep, porhaps, a roof over our heads, but I must take exception to your correspondent's suggestion, which would actually take the roof off our heads, or rather the heads of our children Wo, the men-folk, would then be driven to the front if only to got out of the responsibilities and worries of watching the poverty, etc., of our families, which I sometimes fear* is even now threatening. 1 expect, our worthy Mayor and Mayoress quite realise the position of fathers of large families, and will agree that the timß is not yet ready for our gins and women to relieve our young men cs suggested.— l am. etc., A HOME DEFENDER. Island Bay, 25th May, 1915.