The Northern Advocate "NORTHLAND FIRST" Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1944. FRENCH-CAN ADI ANS AND THE WAR.

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1944, Page 4

The Northern Advocate "NORTHLAND FIRST" Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1944. FRENCH-CAN ADI ANS AND THE WAR.

CANADIANS have played so splendid a part in the present war that news of a critical situation based upon a proposal to conscript French-Canadians in the home forces for service overseas is unwelcome. There has existed a belief that all was well in Canada so far as participation in the war was concerned. This belief has consequently made more earnest a hope that the trouble is the outcome of political influences rather than anti-British propaganda, and that clouds obscuring the sun will soon disperse. Today’s news suggests that this may be expected. General La Fleche, Canada’s Minister for War, expressed confidence a few days ago that French-Canadians in the home defence army would volunteer for service overseas in sufficient numbers to render unnecessary the drafting of conscripts. This statement, in direct opposition to that of General McNaughton, may have caused surprise, but there is ground for General La Fleche’s confidence, according to close observers of events in Canada in recent years. It is pointed out that recruiting policy during the first World War was very different from that employed on this occasion.Then, the Canadian Defence Minister, Sir Sam Hughes, openly declared that he did not want French-Canadians in the army. This time, the Canadian army has warmly welcomed FrenchCanadians; indeed, for the first time in its history, Canada has developed on organised policy of military service for Frenchspeaking soldiers. Of the old order, an Ottawa journalist has written: One of the curious blind spots of army administration has prevented military authorities from taking full advantage of the true fighting spirit of the French-Canadians. . . The French-Canadian has a fighting tradition, but,' characteristically, throughout the years the Canadian army lias insisted on trying to make Englishspeaking Canadians of them instead of soldiers.” In terms of the new policy, however, army manuals were by 1941 being published in French for the first time; FrenchCanadian schools for- commissioned and non-commissioned officers had been opened; the number of French-Canadian units was being increased; and the language of these units, except for a few basic commands, is French. As an outcome of this policy, recruiting for seryice overseas was twice as big in Quebec in the middle of 1942 as it was in the corresponding period of the previous year. Army figures show that 36,000 French-Canadians had volunteered for active service. General La Fleche, a French-Canadian himself, strongly supports the policy, and there will be a strong hope that his estimate of his fellow-countrymen’s readiness to provide the 16,000 volunteers required during the next three months will be vindicated. If political rancour can be excluded, this hope is likely to be justified. S.P.C.A. SUGGESTION. SOME people have been inclined to scoff good-humouredly perhaps, at a suggestion by a member of the local S.P.C.A. that something in the nature of a Blue Cross hospital, or home for domestic pets, should be established in Whangarei. The approach of the holiday season has impressed upon owners of dogs, cats, birds and other pets that there is more to be said for the S.P.C.A. suggestion than is generally conceded at periods of the year when holiday absence from home'is only a far-off possibility. . , . , , It is true that neighbours prove themselves, to be truly generous friends by undertaking the. care or animal or bird which cannot accompany holiday-making owners, but there is a natural reluctance on the part of owners to burden neighbours with work and responsibility. , If there were in existence in Whangarei a depot under proper control where animals or birds could be “boarded out, a problem which is often embarrassing would be simplified. It is even more necessary that there should be available, accommodation for sick or injured animals. It is difficult, often impossible, to obtain for a distressed pet the care it should receive, for there is frequently not in existence suitable accommodation in which to carry out the treatment ordered by a veterinarian. A Blue Cross depot, with hospital accommodation, such as is to be found in every large town and city, would be a real boon. Whangarei, it may be argued, is not yet big enough to warrant such an amenity, but statistics would probably disprove that contention. The suggestion is one which should not be ignored. A start in a small way could probably be made by a citizen owning a suitable property and possessing veterinary knowledge.