CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 26 May 1915, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

tWe* wj§__.'ft to he distinctly understood that." in publishing corresjJond*Rl.e,.,we.)dbv not; thereby identify ourselves withftSie .opinions expressed by the-writer**^ SHIRKERS AND THE WAR. To the Editor.

Sir, —As the cry is still "more men," do you not think the time has airived when something should be done to shake up the shirkers? As it appears to be impossible to shame this class into volunteering, why not try conscription? It woud be much the fairer system. At present the shirker follows the race meetings, attends football matches and other amusements, as if such a thing as war had never been heard of. How many of the young men of military age who took part :n last Saturday's football matches have volunteered for the front? You could count them on the fingers of one hand. In mv opinion, the .public are also to be blamed for supporting football, etc., at this critical period. In this evening's Star (May 24th) I notice that the London County Council are dismissing all employees of military age and replacing them with men above military age. Why. not do the same here ? Is it because our employers of labor are so patriotic that they are afraid of losing a few pence? Or perhaps they do not -realise.-that.the Empire is fighting for its very existeuce. If the latter? the sooner they, do so . the better! Jruly we have much to learn from tfte Germans. -In- an area of about four square miles here I could point out at least 30 shirkers. Thefe are V ole. '.f amilies, each, including several of^ mihta-t^ ags, -w.HrJu_ve_.not sent a sohtary soldier to the front. When asked, when they are going to volunteer the usual reply is "when they are compelled; to," and they do not anoear to be ashamed to y say it Others, again, claim to be Germans on the strength of one or other parent kemg descended from thai rmtion Now,, sir I -claim,: that $hese individuals should be given an opportunity lE; ngV and if the-v .^"Persist in claiming German nationality they should be intern. _. . * y OLD CAMPAIGNER.