THE CALL FOR MEN.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 6, Issue 244, 20 October 1915, Page 5

THE CALL FOR MEN.

! Editor, "Tho Maoriknd Worker," —Tho following letter, headed as ; above, recently appeared in a ChristclimvJi paper over tho noin do plume of "Traveller": i j Sir, —I have occasion to travel on 1 trams and trains a 'great deal and I j have been greatly struck by the j J number of fine men on our trains J and trains as conductors, guards | i and shunters, who would look much j better in khaki serving with the colours. Older men, or men rejected by the military authorities for some ■slight defect, could tako the places 1 of thoso able-bodied men. Somo of these men certainly are married, but in most cases being young men have only ono or two children, while ! plenty of men at tho front have ' heard their country's call and have left six or seven children knowing that the State will take care of them till their return. In Sydney era- ! plovers in timber yards and factori ies are putting olf all able-bodied ; young men to give them the oppor- • tunity of going to -the front. It would be a good thing if some Christj church employers did tho came thing, as tho greater the numbers that eu- ! list the sooner tho war will be over. I would bo obliged for permission to reply on behalf of the shunters of Christchurch engaged on tho N.Z. I Railway. I It is evident that "Traveller" has a very limited knowledgo of the quali- , fications required by a shunter, when iho states "that rejects or men with defects, could be used for this position." It might surprise Traveller ito know that a man who is a reject ! from a military standpoint would bo j absolutely useless as a shunter or even ias a porter engaged in shunting opera- ! tions, as the work entailed thereby js lof such a dangerous nature that it ! necessitates quicker action and greater mental capabilities than any other work. Again, it would bo well to ponder over tho latter part of "Tra- ! veller's" letter wherein ho states that i "men with a family of ono or two I children aro not enlisting, while plenty lof men at the front have heard their country's call and have left six or seven children." I The shunters as a body would bo quite justified- at this juncture to make their homes their first consideration for tin following reasons:— (1) There is still a surplus of available single men who have so far shown no desire or inclination to enlist; wo have only to look at tho statistics compiled by J. McCombs, M.P., in which he states that 98 per cent, of those who have p.lready enlisted are working men. Wβ have abundant evidence that many farmers' sons, have not enlisted and have no intention to do so. "Why? Because father will then bo required to employ outside labour.

(2;) Most of the shunters are endeavouring to buy a home for themselves, which at the best of times is a severe strain on their resources, to sr.y nothing of tho present price of food. Would tho wives and children of those who might enlist bo kept as well as they aro at present? and what about tho instalments falling duo in regard to tho purchasing of a home? AVo know perfectly well what would happen—they would roceivo an amount equivalent to that of Chnritablo Aid.

(3.) In most other branches of tho Government servico men enlisting are receiving cither half pay or other remuneration over and above that received from the Defenco Department. If we of tho Railway service enlist, what do we get? Absolutely nothing jleyond superannuation payments bcins ikept up. So let our esteemed "ilr. traveller" get busy in a moro useful direction and use his influence in having this state of affairs put right. (4.) Further, "Traveller" particularly mentions "shunters, guards, and conductors" in his letter. Did it never occur to him to eearch further afield? and if he entered tho offices he would find there plently of room for thought, and see tho army of clerks who are not osposed to the public gaze like the shunters, etc., and who have not enlisted, although in every way eligible .to do so. In conclusion permit mo to inform "Traveller" and others that at the present time over two thousand men from the N.Z. Railway Departments have either enlisted or aro at_ the front, thus demonstrating conclusively that the railwaymen aro doing their full share in spite of the remarks of "Traveller" to the contrary. Further, the calls on the men's pay on overy occasion that they have been