OBLIGATIONS TO THE TROOPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24337, 29 June 1940, Page 13

OBLIGATIONS TO THE TROOPS

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —Your coi-respondent " Cosmopolitan " in Wednesday's Daily Times, asks what right I have to write of the sacrifice made by New Zealanders offering themselves for service overseas when I would deny the privileges of a New Zealander to the German refugees. Allow me to inform "Cosmopolitan" that, being a citizen of the greatest Commonwealth of Nations which stands for freedom, justice and good government, I have a knowledge of my real inheritance and am awakened to its fundamental realities, this giving me the privilege of interesting myself in the welfare of our fighting youths. These youths freely renounced a comfortable home and pleasant surroundings for the hard life of the army and yielding to the compulsion of duty, were transformed from peace-loving citizens into brave and efficient soldiers in order to help in the building up of a civilisation founded on service.

It is for us who remain at home to awaken to the sense of our obligations, for would it not be a poor acknowledgment of the noble service rendered by our. brave lads, who are saving our country for us if, when they return once again, we had missed the great opportunity of advancing their welfare and improving the existing state of affairs. Their advancement' will be largely determined by the way in which we discharge the obligations of our positions.—l am. etc.. June 27. Zeala.