NEW ZEALAND'S SPIRIT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17325, 27 May 1918, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND'S SPIRIT

Sir William Gullen, Chief Justice and Lieutenant-Governor of tho State, who has just returned from a holiday in New Zealand, was much impressed with the work the dominion was achieving in connection with the war. Wherever he went he found a splendid spirit; among the people (says * S - Vdl,e >' I>J % Telegraph of 15th inst.) " Of course," said his Honor, "the hardships necessarily consequent upon such a law as they liavo there makes it-self felt, but there seems to be a whole-hearted determination on the part of the people generally that nothing shall stand in the way of the prosecution of the war. Just within the last fortnight a fresh draft was levied, youn £ married mol , w jtli an only oliild. In many eases there were men who had just started for themselves in business, men who were beginning to make the<r way, setting up homos lor themselves, and, naturally, their calling up produced hard ship. l>ut, notwithstanding, every onq of those who were callcd recognises that the system of compulsory service is a fair, a just, and a patriotic one. "They have grievances there," continued ►-lr William Cullen, " as they have in other parts of the world, but tho authorities have a very short way of dealing with them. A good deal of comment was made on the sentences passed upon those who refused to serve, and some heat was engendered ; i: Christchurch, while 1 was in tho dominion, over complaints concerning provision being made for families and dependents, but th'U was used bv just, a few as an excuse for utterances which were subsequently brought before the Magistrate's Court. The general feeling there, however, is that if tho community is going to do its duty in this world struggle. this is not the time for persons passing resolutions and proclaiming to the world what fine fellows they are. It is simply a case of taking your coat off and doing things in a businesslike fashion. The authorities, While they are strict in enforcing tho law, are sympathetic and considerate so far as the situation per mits. Tnoy realise that the whole safety of tho outlying parts of the Empire depends upon every ounce of effort being thrown into the contest. They know that if Samoa got back to the Germans, New Zealand would not be safe for a week, and; of course, what applies to New Zealand applies to Australia. AVith tho Germans in Samoa, Australia would not be safe, boeause there you would have a perpetual centre of disturbance within a few days' sail from her". Iho same thing may be said of ofch-'r places. When you consider the possibility of the Germans renewing the occupation of New Guinea and Samoa the matter becomes ono of burning urgency.'"