AN OPEN LETTER.

NZ Truth, Issue 570, 20 May 1916, Page 8

AN OPEN LETTER.

To Mr. Massey. Dear Sir, — I have been informed on good authority, that cue' of .those who sit m high places considers tho Women's Anti-German League of no use except to give the Government a lot of extra trouble. Oh, dear me! How like a mere man to sit In judgment on women and women's work. Extra trouble forsooth! I should just think nil Anti-Germans would, and 3hould give, extra trouble when bo much proGerman sympathy ie shown. /Mr, Massrty, why, oh, why do you * and many of your supporters object to tho work, of the Antl*Germ<An League? Theso truly patriotic women should have, what they wonU undoubtedly receive, m any other part \ot the British Dominions/ Tho hearty support and co-operation, of those In power. Mr. Allen has shown the greatest antipathy to the Women's Antl-Germau League. la It becauso his actions. Were criticised? If so, why did- ho iiivite criticism? Does he Iraagrlne tho Women of New Zealand a!ro going to giijhd the flower of our manhood to the ITt'out ami not BCtf that they are safeguarded aa far ah possible from im- > necessary dangoraV Welljj if ho does think mo, he is greatly mistaken. Wo, AS loyal subjects of King George,. have & right to oar opinions, timd a right to volco them In tho cause of Justice and humanity; a right to expose whatever Ih traitorous, or whatever appears to endanger one unit of our Empire. No, Mr. Massey, you do not appear to consider wo have that right 1.-re-gretfully urrlved at that conclusion on the night the deputation i from tho Women's Anti-German League waited upon you, to request "you 1| to prevent" that young man, Grleraon, from going away with our boys. You, sir, told tho ladles not to become hysterical. I must protcHt against that insinuation. Mndamo "Jioeufve's petition, or appeal, to you was moat eloquent and Impassioned; «he voiced the sentiments of tho women, mothers, wives, wlsters, Bweolhourt.H and children of thl» Dominion. Tliero was not one unkind • word uttered, not a word of aplte or Vindlctlvoncfla; certainly no one showed any sign of hysterics, unless you. yourself did. I see you yet, standing thcro with your back to the door. (By tho wny, how you hugged that door* way. were you afraid?) In that hand- | Homo room, with hands 'thrust into trousera pocket*, unJnced shoes, and feet planted widely apart,! glaring at one of tho ladle* who had the temerity to nuggciit that a man who was receiving good pay and yet had not sufftclent honor to pay his board or bis laundress was not a fit and proper ponton to officer our boys. Dear mo! but you were verging on hysterics. I hear you yet. shouting angrily, "That wilt do. I will not listen to such talk. I have just as much respect for the man I gave hnlf-a-crownL to a Tow minute* ago. &* I havo for ft man with tnlllloriff." Very laudable sentiments, but entirely uncalled for; no one stiffedited that tho young man m question was unfit, becauso of his poverty; It 1 was you who jumped at that conclusion. Mr. Massoy, I assure you wo all camo away ureatly Impressed, not only by your courtesy, but al&o by your wholo-heartcd generosity. Ono thing moro I must mention. You contradicted Madame Boeufvo when she said Gricrnon worked for tbe O^man ConSi. Tfou «*id, b« wortwl for *

New Zealand merchant." In conclu- I sion, will you tell us what will* be the effect on the shipping? If we have Conscription, what about the stevedores? Inexperienced men cannot acquire the knack of loading a boat; they could not make a success of that branch of labor. What about the boat that nearly "turned turtle" at Duaedfn the other day. Was this through inexperienced hands handling the cargo? Wishing that you will ellnfinaU* all pro-German Ideas ai\d sentiments from amongst your supporters. I have the honor to sign myself, what I truly am, A GRANDMOTHEk. A\elltngtou. :;