THE WAR EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24336, 28 June 1940, Page 5

THE WAR EFFORT

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—May I reply to your correipondent “Scrutator,” whose letter on the war effort appeared in your Monday’s issue? “Scrutator” is apparently of military age, and judged by -‘his attacks on Messrs Hamilton, Begg, and Coates, a supporter also of the Labour Party. He says that if the age limit for military service were raised to 60 these gentlemen would not have so much to say about conscription. I would remind “Scrutator” that the most . .ardent supporters of conscription men A'ho served in the Great War/sand know from bitter experience whaiSa, farce and a failure voluntary enlistment is. To illustrate what I mean:-. In the Great War, Britain trained; and sent overseas hundreds of thousands of volunteers in Kitchener’s Army, "and then found that she had sent overseas- hundreds, if not thousands, of;,mechanics -id.other skilled workerstV'Who Were needed at home for making armaments and. other indispensable Supplies. She had then to train more men to replace those and bring back the skilled men, or what was left of them. Now the idea of conscription is:to have every man, and woman, too, for that matter, on the job each is best fitted for the minute they are wanted. : May I also remind “Scrutator” that wealth was conscripted, and severely, too, during the st war by the so-called “ bad old Conservative Government” of those days? You| correspondent also asks what Messi’s Hamilton and Coates baye done tovMrlls* tfievWSr'r effort? ‘d “ Scrutator ” knows’ as well as I do that the’ Oppo-, sitioh side of the House has been given no opportunity to do anything!—! am, etc.; f; > s/isoe. Otiake, June 27. TO THE EDITOR „ . Sir, —I was interested, when listening to the parliamentary debate over the air, to hear a member of the Government . say that the farmers were doing ail they could to speed up production, because they knew they had the sympathetic co-operation of the Government. This is indeed a transformation! Why, during these last 10 months, when We have been in our cow yards at 5.30 every morning and finishing our daily round any time between 8 and 9 p.m., we have been regularly treated to a delightful talk over the air, generally on a Sunday night, bh how well the “ workers ” were carrying on the war effort, special mention being made of the overtime loading of ships. Recently, a -,few days after workers in Auckland had downed tools, Mr Semple, on a Sunday evening, exhorted us to unite and produce, again telling us of the splendid efforts of the workers, and then the butchers in Southland refused duty. Again, on being raised to the exalted position of Minister of Manpower, and, no doubt, being imbued With wonderful enthusiasm for the cause, Mr Semple praised the “ work, ers’” effort and asked for our willing co-operation, with a hint of how things would be if it were not forthcoming. I am wondering if, when he seems so satisfied with the way the “ workers ” are helping the Government, Mr Semple wishes the same kind of cooperation from us. Of course, we all know that im days past, whenever any Opposition member mentioned in Parliament - any beneficial legislation for farmers, he was greeted with a howl of derision from the Government benches. Naturally, therefore, we are a", little shy about the change, and hope we will be spared the Sundaynight pat on the back, so generously bestowed on the “ workers.” We can assure the Government', that we will produce to the limit of our capacity and strength—indeed, we must in order to pay our way—but our incentive for greater effort is not the Government, but the dire need of the dear old Homeland of our fathers and mothers, and if we need more inspiration we have it>from tljeir loaders, - Because Mi' RooSevelt iiivited Republicans to help him,’ Would you call him a Republican? Likewise, if Mr Fraser were to ‘Overcome his temerity and ask members of the Opposition to form a War Cabinet with him. would you call him a Nationalist? May I quote the following from a letter written by a soldier in Egypt to a member of his Farewell Committee? It was published in a local paper, and reads: “As you are one of the Farewell Committee, you are in all possibility a, returned soldier.- -You were probably here in Egypt, too. and understand. . . .” And again, further on: “There are so many old hands at this game on your committee. . . .” It speaks eloquently. does it not? Mr Semple may be a man for many jobs, but he cannot understand the job our boys are called on to do, and we earnestly trust he may never need to learn.—l am, etc.. Returned Soldier’s Wife. Oamaru. June 26,