IS IT WORTH WHILE?

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VII, Issue 330, 29 November 1917, Page 3

IS IT WORTH WHILE?

FIGHTING FOR SHLIIKLfLS. Gunner Colin Graham, who. with his brother, has served on Gallipoli 1 and in France and Flanders, speaks forcibly in a letter frcm Frsuce to his father. Mr C. I>. Graham, of Messrs John Gn'arn-d and Co., Ltd., Sydney, co.’Coriiing the recent .hi- • dustriai trouble and the negative vote on the last referendum. '‘l was air.az.ed/' he said. . "ir> Lear of a tramway strike hl Sydney. I cannot understand that sort of thing at all —at thr> present juncture - and can only put these industrial disturbances down to ignorance, the same as the failure of the conscription referendum, for I uni firmly convinced the Australian public fail to realise that this war is not :i war of armies, so much as a war of nations, and, as 1 read the other day, every citizen must give a, helping hand in some way or other, and gladly suffer the inconvenience and discomforts of this light for freedoln,. But I am afraid that Australia has too much prosperity nnd too much sunshine, to appreciate the gravitv of the situslidn, and sometimes one is forced to the opinion that the race is deteriorating in Australia when these constant disturbances take place. “The effect of news of tins kind on the boys is very bad, and takes more heart out of them than all the Hun shells. Just place yourself ift our position—risking everything for our country and those who will follow us —many paying the supreme price—ouly to be continually hearing of the majority left behind squabbling over a paltry few shillings or refusing to carry on the country’s 'vork because of a fancied grievance, and of pleasure taking precedence over duty. "We cannot help thinking sometimes —is it worth while trying to free people like these, who apparently are absolutely decadent and free from ail knowledge of the duties of citizenship! It seems to me that people who take advantage of their country’s temporary embarrassment aro ghouls ravening the flesh of the nation’s dead sons, or vampires fattening on the blood of those who at least did realise that a nation has a right to call on her sons in time of stress.

“Of course we all realise that f deasure is necessary to life, and ove to hear of people enjoying themselves -as much as possible : but, at the same time, we sometimes doubt | if Australians realise that. pleasure iis the reward of work, and there- | fore should come after work, not j before—or when work should be ’ done- —although, of course, we realise that work is done better if a reasonable amount of pleasure is taken as an antidote or stimulant. The army has realised that important fact, and therefore has organised and en couraged concert parties, recruiting from among the soldiers themselves, to travel about —even into the danger area—givijig concerts and picture shows —to sSj nothing of bands, and, believe me, their value is beyond belief.”