CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1474, 18 November 1915, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir. — I read Mr Ed. Osborne’s letter in your last issue with a good deal oi interest and while I cannot but admire the splendid patriotism and sacrifice of his boys who have voluntarily offered their lives for King and Empire, i don’t agree with his opposition to conscription. He judges other young men by his own sons, hut in this he is very much mistaken. Conscription is needed to compel numbers of young fellows in this district to do their duty, who think only of the god mammon and their selfish pleasures with no real ties to prevent them from doing their duty. I don’t see any sense in sending such skulkers white feathers, but I think a touch of the bayonet in the rear would be more sensible. There are some families in this district, sir, who have not yet sent one representative to the front and why should other young chaps give their lives to perpetuate the breed and prosperity of such shirkers. The miserable excuses one hears from some of them is a disgrace to the British stock to which they belong. I quite agree with Mr Osborne about the Government making proper provision for the dependents of those who enlist, but not with his views about conscription. —Yours etc.,

Voi.untker