LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16889, 29 December 1916, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CHRISTMAS DAY TRADING. Sril, —Does the, law permit unrestricted trading on Christinas Day? If hot, how is it that certain shops are allowed to carryon their business without restriction? -f noticed certain shops, particularly in Oxversham, with doors open for business us usual on Christmas Day. Other simps of the Kiinn class were closed, probably because of trio Drier senso of decency on the pail of the owners. Although I have travelled over tho whole of New Zealand I have never seen opon trading practised before, and I think it -would bo deplorable, if such a practice were to become general. I also noticed, to my astonishment, that corporation workmen were carrying out repairs in (.'nrjjill road OD that day. Is it, usual lor tho corporation to require its surfacemen to work on Christmas Day?—l am, etc, December 26. Noktti Island. THE MILITARY APPEAL BOARDS. Sir,—Wo are all familiar with the censor in the matter of our war news. We are not allowed to hoar more than can be. helped from tho seat, of war. Surely a censorship could bo applied to certain doings here. Take our Military Appeal Boards, dc.-l'ng with men who havo been called up. Does it make good reading for those bravo lads who put all their private interests aside, and went forth to do battle in the Empire's causo to sco that others, even though called up by ballot, will put up a plea for exemption. Such plea may be basotl on reasnnablo enough grounds, but it usually points to the advantage of the. individual concerned; certainly not to the trench and its accompanying dangers. Brown, at the front,, has already heard that iSmii.h. at home, has done so well lately that ho has bought a motor car and gone in for certain other things that go to make life pleasant. Later he hoars that Smith has been called up by ballot for service, but has appealed mid been granted exemption. Encouraging for Brown ! Therefore, rather than let our lads at the front be discouraged by news of this sort, apply the censor.—l am, etc. Reservist. NATIONAL SERVICE. Sip.,—Tho verv important letter of yoiir correspondent "G. H." expresses the views of many thoughtful people. New Zealand has long boon in want of a statesman at the head of affairs, but the want was never so keenly felt as at present. The present Government and Parliament will never face tho problem of organisation for war purposes and tho cost of living question. But we have a statesman who is not only ennable, but, I believe, willing, to deal with those most important matters if a general des're were expressed at public meetings that he should come forward to chr.mpion the people's eanso. The Hon. Geo. Fowkls is tho man.—l am, etc, E. T. Evaxs. December 28. A VOICE FROM THE SOUTH. Sir,—We are hearing a good deal just now about an Imperial Conference, and Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward are delaying their departure from the Old Country to take part in such a conference. I am nearly halfway through my ninth decade in age, and many ware have taken place in my time. An uncle of mine served in the artillery under Wellington in the Peninsular war. Many times havo 1 listened to his thrilling stories about that war. Wellington was made a duke and given £500,C00 by a grateful country. My uncle got no pension, and was carried to a pauper's grave in a one-horse hearse, with rusty old springs, which rattled his bones over the stones as a pauper which nobody owned. Just at tho time when Mr Keir Hardio visited New Zealand, Earl Roberts published" an appeal to tho British people for funds to rescue from tho poorhouse a number of veterans who had fought in tho Crimean war and the Indian Mutiny. Now, it seems to mo that it is to bo left to Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to pledge this dominion to whatever the Imperial Conferenco may acrrce upon, subject to the approval of our Parliament. And what value has the reservation subject to tho approval _of Parliament? None at. all. The gift of the Dreadnought by Sir Joseph Ward furnishes a case- in point. When that matter was being fiercely discussed in Parliament many members condemned Sir Joseph's action. But it was said that tho honour of tho colony was pledged, and tho ship must be given. And the dominion is now in for another pledging of her "honour" by Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, and "honour" will bo used as a millstone round the neck of this dominion to compel tho people to fulfil the pledge given by these two men. This is rulo by democracy, and it has always been the case. In the last resort, in time of crisis, autocracy dominates. Wo want more effectual protection of tho principles of democracy. At election times candidates promise to carry out the will of the people if elected. But in Parliament they throw off tho gnrb of servants and assume tho purple of tho despot, vide their action over conscription. In conscription the life of the subject is involved, and no question can bo of greater importance. Yet tho Parliament of New Zealand ignored the principles of democracy, of which it professes to be the defender. Emergency of the situation is pleaded. But the greater the emergency tho greater is the need to refer the question at issue to the vote of the people. I am not saying a word against oonscription. I havo throe grandsons at tho front, and another ono is on tho way. I am contending for democracy against despotism. There is no middle ground between the two. If democracy is to be abandoned in timo of crisis, then democracy must bo pronounced a failure as a system of government. And wo must come under the Continental system. But this cannot and must not be. Democracy is man s only hope of redemption from tho State, described by St. Paul in the following words: ■• For wo know that tho whole creation , groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." , History is full of tho records of the groanings of the common people under _ tho tyrannies and robberies of rulers who seized power by the help of militarism. , Militarism is the greatest enemy to tho common people, and tho people must dovote all their energies to crush militarism. Not only in Prussia, but in every other civilised country. How is that to be done? By the peaceable nations combining to maintain lastin"- peace. Such combination must be open to all nations—oven to Gcimany and tho Powers that are now fighting on tho side of Germany. No militarism must bo tolerated in any country beyond a certain very restricted limit. This will not suit all governments. No, but it would suit all peoples, and we want rule by tho people after tho war in as direct a manner as possible In fact, the aim should be to unite peoples by tho principles of democracy. But existing Governments will light against pure democracy; they will want to retain their grip on the people's necks. I protest against tho future being delivered into tho hand of conferences, unless their resolutions axe subject to the approval of tho people a direct vota by referendum. Tho crv " crush Germany was a great mistake, which has cost many lives, as it drove the German people together. Tho erv " crush Prussian militarism" is right. The best hope of bringing tho war to a speedy end, and of establishing lasting ■ peace, is by the overthrow of {he German Government by revolution and the *>stab- , lishment of a. republic, as in France. That would unite the German and French people . as nothing else would, and Germany would : become a tower of strength in maintaining peace. If tho labour now expended on war in all its branches we.ro devoted to the arts < of ponce, there would l>o an abundance of everything which man really requires to make him happy- a nfl tho samo money as now pays for war materials would pay for ( it' All "this 's within tho roach of tho civi- ' lied peoples if they would make » right . use of their power to secure it. All power ; is of the people.—l am, etc., : Makarowa. T. Buxtox. i