ALL FIT MEN SHOULD GO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17100, 24 February 1916, Page 9

ALL FIT MEN SHOULD GO.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir. —I see in vour columns to-day that at a meeting of the Ashburton County Council, Mr Lill said they were short of men for farm work. As one who is in a position to .know, I say there is no shortage, nor has there been since the war started. He also favoured compulsion, hut said certain people were producers, and these would have 'to he kept at home. I think ilr Lill’s argument very onesided. Surely he does not think that eligible men. even if they are producers. should he kept at home. I say that every fit man, no matter who or what he is. has an equal right to go for service. As for production, where would France have been to-day if that was allowed ? There every fit man goes for service, and still production is carried on very well by those unfit. There are any. amount of good competent married men in the towns here unfit for service, who would' gladly gb into the country to work if offered reasonable wages. Quite recently an advertisement appeared in the “Lyttelton Times ” for a married shepherd to take charge of a sheep run, as■ the owner wa.s’ anxious to get into the firing Tine. A few days afterwards the advertiser was good enough to insert a notice saying that a suitable person had been engaged, and that the replies were too numerous to personally reply to. If Mr Lill or anyone else wants men let them do the same before say-, ing there is*' a scarcity, as I think there are many good workers who would rather answer an,advertisement than go to a Labour office.—l am, etc., SERVE ALL ALIKE. Mount Harding. Methven, Feb. 19.