NATIONAL SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23175, 22 October 1938, Page 10

NATIONAL SERVICE

DUTY OF BRITONS REGISTER ADVOCATED LORD BLEDISLOE'S APPEAL _____ * [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Oct. 8 There appears in the Times this morning the accompanying letter from Viscount Bledisloe, formerly GovernorGeneral of New Zealand: "Now that war has ceased to be imminent, with its threat to the entire fabric of civilisation, which it has taken centuries to build, are we all going back to "business (and pleasure) as usual" until another world crisia develops, or are we going to take stepg to perpetuate that national solidarity bo conspicuous in Germany, which the events of the last 'few days have strikingly evoked in our midst? "Does not this breathing space which the Munich Conference has pro! vided, afford us an unparalleled oppor. tunity for reconstructing our social fabric, fortifying and exemplifying by works our religious faith, and by collectiv.e organisation and courageously conspicuous effort furnishing that moral rearmament which Earl Baldwin and others have so ardently advocated? "During the three years that I p re . sided over the National Council of Social Service I could not fail to be deeply impressed and spiritually in. spired by th£ gallant, untiring, and selfless activities of little bands of voluntary workers, belonging to all classes of society, in the distressed areas of this country. At the 6ame time 1 was unhappily conscious, as were my colleagues, of the indifference and aloofness of many other potential collaborators, including seme resident in those same areas, whose active, unpatronising, and generous sympathy] if they did but realise it, would have proved of untold value. "Social service is only one of many channels through which moral rearmaraent and national cohesion can be effected. In numerous spheres of activity vital to the security of the whole community in an emergency "national service for all," according to their respective qualifications and aptitudes, has become urgently necessary. "The provision of a National Service Register, as many of us have suggested in your columns during the past two years, would at least make us all feel that our country had ffeed of us, whatever be our circumstances or social status, and would thus enhance that internal solidarity which js so essential to national strength, and incidentally to international influence and effectiveness."