WAR AND CONSCIENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22209, 9 September 1935, Page 12

WAR AND CONSCIENCE

Sir,— May I ask if "Civilian" was one of those who stayed home, while others went to the last war. My husband went away with the 1915 Rifle Brigade. What did he get? A place among the unemployed. Several times we have applied for land, but the lease goes over our heads to others. I have jive sons, but nob one of them will ever go to war. Ex-serviceman's Wot,.

Sir—lf it is true, as "Fern" infers, that by our refusing to fight the aggressive nation would control the country and" handle us. as a tribe of slaves, then surely this assertion would apply to past wars I JBut does it apply to the Great World War—England versus Germany? Has England taken control of Germany:' No! Has she taken control of the German race, to handle it as slaves? No! Therefore the German people would be better off to-day had they refused to fight; and so would we be. There would be no empty chairs, nor vacant spaces at tables, nor parents with tear-filled eyes. What good did the war do us? All 1 can see. is a_ world full of strife —each nation to gain power over the other. Now, sis won the war, "Fern" intimates that the Germans are all slaves to-day:; but according to His Majesty's opening speech in the Economic Conference, there are millions of British subjects "on the verge of destitution (wuile our produce rots). Who is the better off? All the Great War did was to plunge our nation so heavily into debt, that we are on the verge of bankrupted'; hence we are so heavily taxed to-dav to pav for it. To me it seems that "America and Japan both won, as they reaped the harvest. L. Kolfe.