THE NATION'S YOUTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22544, 8 October 1936, Page 15

THE NATION'S YOUTH

Sir, —May I offer my congratulations on the article "Squandering the Nation's Youth" in Saturday's supplement.'l am glad that such an able pen has pointed out a part of the tremendous cost of war. Nihora says: "The same may happen again." I would say the same will happen again if our Rnipire becomes involved, but the result will be infinitely worse for it is generally agreed that our children will suffer when bombing aeroplanes attack large centres of population. What then must we do? Every journal of standing should, to my way of thinking, back the highest ideals for which the League of Nations stands, and point out the futility of war in the most forceful language at their command. Every voter in every country in the world should require their Government to support an International Court of Justice, to take all excess profits out. of the manufacture of war materials and to conscript the whole of the nations' wealth and man-power on the declaration of war, irrespective of rank or power, or major or minor industry. And while these objectives are being achieved, what must we do? Serve, as a last resort, but know that we have everything to lose and nothing to gain. Military training is useless; it was in the last war except for a few experts. National physical training may be of some use. Finally, may I ask space to comment on gas warfare: if it is used it means death to at least 75 per cent of young children. Imagine what must happen to a panic stricken city with high explosives and gas' mixed. • Wondering.