Realities of War

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20569, 31 May 1941, Page 8

Realities of War

Sir,—May I be permitted to say how amazed I was to read in your leading article of May 27 that you think the first of several casualty lists “will serve to remind the people at home of the grim realities of war.” Even though you extend your sympathy to those stricken with anxiety, in your next paragraph, that does not take the sting from your first statement. Is it possible that you think the people of New Zealand need such things as long casualty lists to bring home the grim realities of war? Do you not think the vacant place in practically every home in the Dominion, and the anxiety of not knowing whether the loved ones in England are still alive and safe, without such things as casualty lists, is enough? And What about the economic situation brought about by war, the holding up of work that is so vital to the progress of any country, the knowledge that the flower" of our manhood is being slaughtered, instead of living at home in peaceful occupations, doing their bit towards helping forward their beloved New Zealand, such as building homes and factories, and helping with the secondary and primary production of the country? Above all, the strain of not knowing from day to day who will be the next to have a telegram from the Minister of Defence to say the vacant chair will never be filled again by the boy who went away to protect us at home. Most of the young men who arc doing their best at home and abroad for the Empire arc sons of men who [ought in the last war, the scars of which are not yet obliterated, and 1 think we need no such things as casualty lists to bring home the grim realities of war, but rather the futility of war, because of the waste of human life and of the useful work that is being held up owing to the absence of our young men. (Mrs.) F. A. SCRAGG. Every sympathy is felt for the views expressed by the correspondent and it Is only regretted that they do not appear to be more generally shared. Support for the opinion of the Herald is to be found, however, in a statement made by the Hon. Mr. Nash only this week that “not even 5 per cent of the people of New Zealand realise what is at stake in the war.” Support lor this, in turn, can be found in many directions —in the fact that even while the casualty lists are being issued there are larger racecourse attendances and heavier racecourse betting than ever before, involving the use of coal that is in short supply to run special trains to race meetings; that vital industries are rendered idle through petty labour disputes: that factories which could be helping to overcome the shortage of goods are idle for 128 hours out of 168 in every week; and that a start has already been made on a six-months election campaign which can only divide and distract the people. It is these things and the contrast between conditions in New Zealand and those overseas that prompted the reference to people in this country not realising the grim realities of war. There are many people who have been called upon to make heavy sacrifices—perhaps more than Mr Nash’s estimate of 5 per cent —but there is no reason to revise the opinion that the great majority of the people of this country have not yet really 1 felt the impact of the war on their daily lives.—Ed. Herald. i——a—■—p——