THE BEST GO FIRST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 107, 2 November 1939, Page 12

THE BEST GO FIRST

WASTAGE OF LEADERS

Under tlie main heading "A Danger to our System," "The Times," on September 7, published the following letter to the Editor from Lord Dawson of Perm, the eminent doctor: — "Under a voluntary system of enlistment—and ours is still in essence voluntary—the best types of our manhood in all classes lead the waygo first. ■ "Among these there is bound to exist a high proportion of key men—men of talent in this or that walk of life whose services are invaluable and, in some instances, irreplaceable. This is but natural, because the same qualities of mind and character, which are making them leaders in their generation, prompt them at once to sally forth. "Per contra—in countries long organised to conscription, men are classified according to their qualities in times of peace—and those nations are not in danger of being bereft of too large a proportion of their best in the early days of war.

"May I plead for a careful scrutiny now? The principle is no doubt accepted, but the urgency of its application cannot be too much stressed, when we reflect that special knowledge plays an increasing part : not only inside but also outside the Fleets and Armies.

"Many will recall the undue wastage of young leaders in the early stages of the last war. The nation not only lost their leadership but also their fatherhood, and has to be content with the immortality of their superb example."

On the same question' of military service, "Demos" writes to "The Post":—"lt is not solely the fact that tli is Government attained office on an anti-conscription platform that would render the introduction of conscription a betrayal of the fundamental principles of democracy, for which' we are told we must fight. The Government might consider itself politically justified in legislating for conscription after a clear indication (which has not yet been given) of the support of a decisive majority of the people. But for the people to give it such a mandate would be a suicide of democracy. No State has the right to demand of its citizens that they shall offer their lives for the preservation of its political integrity, even supposing that to be threatened. Such a sacrifice can only be accepted from the individual who voluntarily decides that the cause 'is worth the exercise of war force on his fellow-human beings."

"Clear Thinker" holds that war is responsible for New Zealand's unfavourable position in crime and mental disease. "How many people realise that in the last war the Allies lost 60,000 men in their heaviest day's fighting? How many know that if all New Zealand fit men were sent overseas there would be sufficient or thereabouts for two days such as that mentioned? Can we not do vastly more by staying at home and helping to feed England and France than we ever can do by going overseas to fight?

. . . Conscription will go closer to ruining this country than anything I can think of. None of the.other Dominions have had or will have conscription of man power, although their respective populations are millions and millions ahead of New Zealand."