UNEQUAL SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23662, 22 May 1940, Page 11

UNEQUAL SERVICE

BURDEN ON WILLING MR/ BARNARD'S VIEWS CRITICISM OF 'vTHE SCHEME [llY TELEGRAPH —OWN" CORRESPONDENT] HASTINGS. Tuesday Tho steps taken by the Government to improve home defence were criticised by the Hon. W. 10. Barnard, Speaker of tho House of Representatives. The plan for officers and non-commis-sioned officers of the Territorial Force to do five months' continuous training at military rates of pay, Mr. Barnard said, meant that the young men who recognised their duty to the country by voluntarily enlisting in the Territorials would have a measure of compulsion applied to them; in numerous cases they would receive for five months less than their present civil wages or salaries, and young and physically fit men who had not seen fit to train in the Territorial Force would continue to ignore the claims of the community to their services.

"The willing horse is to carry the extra burden of national defence," Mr. 15arunrd said. Soldiering a Young Man's Job Returned soldiers 111 the National Reserve would gladly respond to tho I fall for greater service to the country, but it was essential that preparations should be made to defend New Zealand in the most efficient way. "The Cabinet proposes to clothe, equip and train middle-aged and elderly veterans of past wars (many are over 50 years of age), but what is it doing to inspire younger and fitter men to do their bit in the scheme of home defence?" Mr. Barnard asked. "Soldiering is a young man's job, as everyone knows, even, for home defence; ft is primarily the young and virile who should be trained, because we may be sure any attacking force will not consist of elderly veterans, but ,of young and thoroughly trained troops. Parliament's Part "Tt is high time Parliament was permitted to have a look into our defence system and our war effort. "The Government proposals for intensive training of Territorials and exservicemen in the National Reserve recalls a point 1 made when speaking last week in the Wellington Town Hall," Mr. Barnard said. "It is futile to wait until we are actually attacked in Now Zealand before taking effective steps to improve our home defences. The proper course, I' urged, was to train a sufficient number of fit men now, so that in these days of fastmoving and unpredictable events we should not be caught napping. The Government now appears to be alive to this obvious need." PRAYERS FOR ALLIES JOINT APPEAL ISSUED [nY TEI.EGHAPIT —press association*] CHRISTCHURCn. Tuesday A joint appeal to Anglican and Presbyterian congregations to make next Sunday a day of special intercession for the Allied forces and leaders is made by the Primate of New Zealand, Archbishop West-Watson, and the moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, the Rev. J. Lawson Robinson. In a statement the Church leaders say that the Governor-General, Lord Gahvav, has expressed his desire that the King's wish for. a day of prayer should, ho observed. It was hoped that those connected with the two Churches would follow this request. Methodist congregations will also observe a day of prayer.

MESSAGE TO MINISTERS BAPTIST CHURCH SERVICES A message to ministers of the Baptist Church in New Zealand, inviting them to make Sunday a day of prayer, has been issued by the Rev. C. W. Duncumb, president of the Baptist Union of New Zealand. The message reads as follows: — "His Majesty the King's call to the Empire to engage in a day of prayer is in line with our national history. It is worthy of a monarch crowned within tho precincts of the Christian Church and vowing humble fealty to the Most High. . . "I invito your fullest co-operation in making Sunday next a day of deep humiliation ancl supplication. 'The stars in their courses' only fought against Sisera (Judges v., verses 1, 2 and 20) when Israel repented of her God-forget-ting. We can only expect Divine intervention in this critical hour when as a people we humble ourselves before God, confess our national sins and show willingness to walk before God in humbleness of heart.

"1 suggest that the Sunday morning service in particular be given over to prayer, in which elders, deacons and congregations shall join, rather than to sermonising." The president of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, tho Rev. Leslie B. Neale. has directed that next Sunday be observed as a day of prayer.

intercessions for victory in the cause of righteousness and peace are to be offered daily in St. Matthew's Church, Wellesley Street West. Prayer meetings also arc to be held to-day in the Lewis Eady Hall under tho direction of the Christian Businessmen's Association, and will bo continued throughout the week.