LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16577, 28 December 1915, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE. bin,-- Friday's issue of your paper contained a letter from Mr Mason m reply to myself. 'i'o practically the first part ot my letter no gives practicaly no answers at all. Ho has no comment to make on the mun who had volunteered and who iias a wile and seven children. The only thing ho does mention is that the 54,000 shirkers do not exist. Yet ho says ho con lind three ol these shirkers, who, througih tho way the questions and answers were put, had to answer "No." No one will bo deceived by a tale like that. The question ot serving in a civil ca.pacity was plain enough to any one who had not a puny mind. Mr Mason said in his first letter that it was the wage earners who would fill the conscript ranks. 1 told him it was they who were filling the voluntary ranks, and asked him what the difference was. It seems he cannot answer this. Ho says I supply no proofs of the failing of voluntaryism, and that Mt Allen had refuted the statement about Otago being short. But I ask him, which wo should believe —tho Government Statistician, from whom the last quotas were obtained, or Mr Alien? It has been Mr Allen's desire all along to screcn Otago. That has been because he is an Otago hoy. He does not like t'> seo his. province in disgrace. The other proofs I thought Mr Mason would have read about. It is several months since General Godley • sent a report, that where he should have 6000 men ho had only about 2200. The lads at Gallipoli were crying all the timo that more men were wanted. Now that ; Mr Mason says they have suffered 200,000 casualties they have had to evacuate it. Is not that a failure on the part of voluntaryism? Then, again, wo have tho Balkan campaign beaten back to Salonika, and the failure in Mesopotamia, all for the want of more men. Here in Dunedin we have been having great recruiting meetings. One meeting a few weeks back got no recruits. Another, at which Mr Isitt and Mr Alpers, two good speakers, did their very best, produced three recruits. Can Mr Mason see any success about the cases I have mentioned? I cannot. If he is a great believer in voluntaryism, why does ho not get on the public platform, and try to obtain recruits to uphold that system. If the system is to be maintained, somebody will have to do something, so why should he not do his share ? He says he' will urge no one to a danger he cannot share. If everyone was like him, things would be allowed to drift, and wo should have had the Germans here long ago. Why does he glory so much about the ever living spirit of British love of civic freedom, and yet not raise even his voice to defend it? Defending shirkers will not maintain that freedom. We all know about the glorious navy, and I would to God the army had the Germans bottled up in the same way, but I did not know that we were asking for inscription for .the navy, so let well alone. Mr Mason's tirade about puny minds and platform patriots is too absurd. It only proves tlie weakness of his case. Anyone who goes on to a platform has the question thrown at him, Why does he not go? He has to give an explanation. Of course |Mr Mason would not believe him. If ho likes to hoar about Home, I had some papers from Home the other week; and I read a paragraph about one of these platform patriots. Some one shouted, why didn't he go? He told his questioner that, lie had the misfortune to lose one of his legs in the South African war; so the Government would not take him because one of his legs was cork. I also read about two men killed m France. One left a wife and eight'children, tlie other a wife and six children. Tlie last one I knew very well, and I don't think the eldest of those six children is 12 years old. Docs Mr Mason consider it is fair and just to allow men with large families like these to go while single shirkers hide behind their mothers? I advise Mr Mason to read an article in last Thursday's issue of the Daily Times on the shirkers of Otago, and I think he will agree with me that he is the shirkers' apologist referred to bv "Man on the Spot. It fits him splendidly. For flapdoodle and claptrap, his reference_ to Ananias and Sapphira at the present time would take some beating. I also read about Private Cranston, of the East Surrey Regiment, who is now in hospital for the fifth occasion with four wounds. Does he think he ought to go again while hundreds of thousands have done nothing? Ybt that is the glory of voluntaryism. Seeing that Mr Mason is n farmer, perhaps he could give me an answer to the following illustration. Supposo ho was working a pair of horses, one of which was very willing and practically doing all the work., and the other was a jibber and doing' little or nothing; what would he 110 to the jibber? Does Mr Mason call Lord Derby's scheme, and the new scheme in Australia, and the way private and -public employees treat single men at the present time voluntaryism? Is it voluntaryism if, when a singlo man goes to ask for work, he is told they want him at the front? Yet. that is what is taking place in New Zealand at present. Of course, the farmery would find them work. But if they do not like to go to the baokblocks, there is practically only one 1 course open for them. That is economic conscription, which affects only the working classes, and that is increasing every day. There is not much freedom aboilt that, and hundreds have been practically forced to go to the front through that system. I think that conscription would have been in force in England long ago, but for the disgraceful attitude of some of the _ leaders of the Labour Party; holding a pistol, so to speak, at tho head of the Prime Minister all the time. I wonder, how Mr J. H. Thomas would have fared if he had been in Germany, and threatened what he would do, if they did something that he did not like. lam afraid he would not have had his liberty long. As Judge Heydon said, it is questionable whether freedom is the right- kind of Government in time of war. The workers of Franco have set the other workers of the Allies a noble example of self-sacrifice. We are told there have been no • strikes in France since the war started. They learnt their lesson from the Paris Communists. _ The Prussians, we are told, stood by while the poor Communists were massacred. That is what they would like to do again; but if there is to be any revolt. . I say, let the millions of German Socialists revolt. We are told there were more Socialists in Germany than any other country. Then, why did . they not turn round and tell their Prussian junkers that they were not going to fight tneir Socialist comrades of'other countries. .. Their Socialism must have been nothing bnt deceit.— I am. etc., Worker. St. Kilda, December 26.

Sir, —Mr Mason, in his reply to "Worker," claims that no proof of tho failure of tho voluntary system is'produced by the champions of compulsion. Truly "none so blind as those who will not see." In fact and principle it is unfortunately only _ too easj to prove that tho system has failed. In fact, the system failed to provide the number required for tho Eleventh Reinforcements, and Mr Mason's reference to the casualties at Gallipoli has nothing whatever to do with tho shortage here. Let him compare the shortago with the total of tho required reinforcements and see therein the measure of the failure. Mr Mason's talk of the navy and its auxiliaries has nothing to do with tho question. The navy in ite sphere represents tho most powerful standing army the world has known, and if we were willing to provide jnilit,a% forces equal on a peace footing to the power of tho navy, then truly the citizens of the Empiro need have no concern as to the continuance of the Empire—and that without military effort on their part. In principle the voluntary system failed months ago, when it bccame necessary for tho State to enoourago tho begging, pleading, and cajoling of men, that they might be persuaded to do their duty. This is an intolerable humiliation, and it is an inversion of all national principles that tho necessities of the State should be subordinate to the "ireedom" of the individual--that "civic freedom" which also includes the example of "industrial freedom" of the workman at Home who completed a job in 31 hours in eight hours, and was immediately marked down by his union. Mr Mason's allusion to "platform patriots" is unfortunate —for his own arguments. It may be retorted that "platform patriots" are tlie evil necessity which the failure of voluntaryism and tho eontinuaneo of the system are entailing upon us. Mr Mason's instances in defence of the " 34,000 shirkers" do not read very convincingly. Rather the reverso. In all conscience the questions of the war census were both simple and direct enough. Was it because there was no room for evasion that the "three single men" were compelled to answer in the negative? Mr Mason is concerned lest under compulsion the eons of wealthy landowners would escape service as "skilled agriculturists." While this avenue of escape may bo open under compulsion to tho craven, it is not even necessary under voluntaryism to have any plea to shelter under. Under compulsion the State has still tho remedy that these men may be called uti at any timo. —I am, etc., Hyde, December 26. Jno. M'Lean.

RECRUITING IN CENTRAL OTAGO. Sin, —In Mr Ramsay's reply to my letter lip deliberately avoids my main argument— namely, that this district, from Moa Creek to the coalpits, has sent as many men in proportion to the population as any part of the country has done. I defy Mr Rarusav or anyone else to provo to the contrary. I think it is Mr Ramsay who is on the wrong track, for, in attackin™ the runholders, he is evidently under the impression that I champion their cause. If he will once more refer to mv letter he will see that although I stated that this district had sent its fair proportion, I emphasised the fact that the majority of them were working men, and in that class I put several runholders—men who, prior to the subdivision -of the Ida Valley and Blackstone Hill stations, were dredge hands, farm labourers, rabbiters, etc., but through their energy and thrift were enabled to enter the ballot, in some cases with success, and are now working with their nose to tho grindstone to make both | ends meet. There are also, however, tho capitalistic runholders to whom I referred in my letter, but for some reason a portion of my letter was excised. I was represented as saying that I had sent my only boy to the front, when, as a matter of fact, I unfortunately have no son. Mr Ramsay asks for an assurance from ine | that every runholder from Moa Creek to I the Ida/burn is represented. I answer that ! question by asking Mr Ramsay whether St. Bathans, where I was born, which place Mr Ramsay has lauded to the skies, has sent a representative from every run, or are the volunteers from there, as from Ida i Valley, mostly from the working class. Mr Ramsay says that he is not making a whine about his sacrifice, when all his letters to the press have had only one conceivable object—namely, to advertise the fact that his son is fighting.—l am, etc., Jas. Moeeis. Ida Valley, December 27. [A few lines only were excised from our correspondent's previous letter. He has, his own punctuation to thank for the fact that the words in that letter "I have sent my only hoy to fight for the Empire" were assumed to refer to himself.--Ed. O.D.T.] "NOT PEACE BUT A SWORD." Slit, —In your leading article of Friday, 24th inst, "Not Peace but a_ Sword," you made tho confession that "it is difficult not to be honestly perplexed, not be chafed aliko by what seems to be the stark unreasonableness of man, and the 'terrible patience of God."' Only in God's holy word do we find the solution of the problem of the awful state of affairs existing at the present time, of "nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." What is th._ cause of this upheaval? The reason is plain when viewed in the light of the Holy Scriptures. This world has been visited, has been trodden by the blessed One, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the lowly, loving, gracious Son of Man, and God over all blessed forever, and yet a spotless, holy, absolutely perfect man. lie came in love to men — came into this world as the expression oi perfect love to those who have sinned against God, _ and deserved nothing but eternal perdition, because of their sins. What has become of this ble»wl One? llow did the world ' treat Him? It has cast Him out. It would not have Him, the Prince of Peace, tho King of Righteousness. Instead it preferred a robber and a murderer. The world has had its choice. Jesus and the robber were placed before the world, and the question was put "Which will ye have?" What was the answer? "Not this man, but Barabbas." What is the result? The whole world stands charged with tho deliberate rejection and murder of the Slon of God. The world as a whole, and every constitutcnt part of it, is stained with the awful crime of crucifying tho Lord of Glory. Every one who has not, truly repented and'/ believed in the Lord Jesus Christs _is part and parcel of_ that world, and lies un<ler the awful guilt of that act. Christ in foreseeing His rejection and crucifixion uttered the words you quoted, "I came not to send peace,, but a sword." We cannot conceive any -delusion more fatally false than to imagine that the world can ever be at peace while it lies beneath the curse of God for the death of His Son. That world which preferred Barabbas to Christ can know no peace. There is naught before it save tho overwhelming judgment of God. But what of the time when "the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie' down with the kid, and the calf ahd the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them?" Shall this blessed time be brought about by social reform, arbitration, peace conferences, etc? God's Word is very explicit on this point. There shall be no "peace on earth" till the Lord of Glory returns, not this time as the meek and lowly "man of Sorrows" but as tho King, "with power and great glory, to execute judgment upon all," and to introduce a reign of righteousness. This reign cannot commence until the judgment of the nations. "When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory; and before Him shall be rrathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." Truly this is "man's day." As every previous age h,as ended in judgment, this age will be no exception. We believe we are living in the closing days of this age. _ ■ In His wondrous love and t mercy, God extends a final appeal to the world "powers of this misguided earth. "Be '.vise therefore, 0 ye kings. lv> instructed, O ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all thf»y that put their trust in Him."—l am, etc., ■ "L. W," THE RECRUITING PROBLEM. Sib,—l see that difficulty is being experienced in the endeavour to get men to offer their services to make up the number required for tbe Eleventh Reinforcements. As far as I can judge, however, the men who have volunteered are a good class of men. It is to be hoped that those still required will soon offer their 1 services. That may God be with them and give them all a safe return is my greatest wish. I fear that the hotels, picture shows, theatres, and races operate against recruiting—the hotels and picture entertainments especially. As thereis a class of_ young men who, if they can get a few shillings and can flirt with a young girl at tho theatre or picture show abo il reach the height of their ambition. The drinking habit is a great curse in. New Zealand to-day, but the Government does nothing to stop it. Numbers of men, moreover, say that if they ioin the forces liiey are only going to sacrifice their lives to enable the farmers to become rich and the capitalists to swell their banking account at their expense. It is mostly the working man's sons that have to fight on sea or land at great sacrifice. The noble nurses also are chiefly the daugntn-s of working men and women._ As an old volunteer—one of the first to join in Waikouaiti in 1863,— I hopo that whoever give their services, man or woman, God will give them a safe return.—l am, etc., John M'Lay. Waikouaiti.,

WORK ON THE WATERFRONT,

Sib,—May I crave a small space to offer a suggestion to tho employers of labour pn our waterfront? Since the entry of this dominion into active participation in the war thero has been an increased demand for labour on tho waterfront, mainly caused by I tho fitting up of troopships, eto. I nm aware, as the result of personal observation, that quite a largo proportion of the labour used in this work is being supplied by singlo men of military age and qualifications to tho detriment of equally capable married' men. So far the company doing thq work has made no distinction between tho fath'er of a family and the single man —too often, I fear, a slacker or shirker. . I would suggest to this company and all other employers of labour on the wharf at Port Chalmers and Dunedin that they should follow the lead of Wanganui and employ all available married men before making use of single men.—l am, etc., Women and Children First. TIIR NOXIOUS WEEDS ACT. Sib.—Tho administration of the Noxious Weeds Act has all along been a contemptible farce and calculated to bring tho administration of justice into contempt, but it has remained for Mr Ma«sey, as Minister of Aerionlture. and his officers to bent all previous records in that respoefc. At the beginning of the season a. few farmers wore summoned and heavily fined for failure to clear their land of Pnl'fnrri'an thistles, your humble servant ho-'nar the first to face the court. I hrul tho insurance of t.lie local inspector thit this year, at anv rate, there would be no fear or favour shown, and he fanned summonses nrrtty freely, with tho result thnt snm" hilf farmers were fined in °nmt rnngin.ir from £10 to 15". and costs. Then this "sounre deal " reformer tlKY'icht too nin.nv votes wer« beinff jeonnrdiVd. nrid he promptly had the rest of the sunrmonsei withdmwn—some 13 in number.—the local constable rotting instructions to serve no more summonses. TV* \vn« done in ftoe of the fnct thnt tho farmers who were favoured in that way wero by far the most guilty,

——— ■ V -J-}/ one man confessing that he had more thietlea uncut thun all the people who wore fined ' ■/} put together—a fact I can vouch for. .'vfty Now, it is actions likfe this that dotroy a man's faith in publio administration, that dis- •"*. count all Mr Massey's professions of reform ■„ <\ and square dealing, and that 5 make one turn in disgust from this practice of partiality to the pure air and clear sun shine sof ' oiu' big firms and their local representative 1 with their clean and capable methods and wonder if some system could not be devised • so that tho business of the country could btf run on similar lines end tha: we might bo V rid once and for all of the politicians who are concerned so largely by the furtherance ; of their own ends.—l am, etc., :-i John Christie. ' j Warepa, December 27. *