CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24833, 5 February 1942, Page 6

CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE

" New Zealander" credits the High Commissioner with foresight cause he declared before he left New Zealand that if ever there was another war and he had his way, not one New Zealand soldier would leave these shores! The situation in New Zealand to-day is vastly different from what it was in 1914-18, when Japan was an ally. The soldiers we sent to Europe in those critical days were really defending New Zealand, and those who fought against conscription were not hindering Great Britain, as they thought, but their own adopted country. "Wake Up" considers it absolutely essential to the unity of the war effort in New Zealand that Mr Semple be asked to sever all connection with the War Cabinet. New Zealand to T day stands in deadly peril of the Fascist invader, and it is not reasonable to expect assistance from a country whose brave people have been likened to a herd of cattle, and whose magnificent leader has been dubbed a murderer. " Matilda" observes that the Railways Department has appealed to the public to maintain our security and well being by keeping " industry's "output from becoming clogged." Don't detain wagons,' keep the wheels moving, is the gist of the department's slogan. It is time the Government realised that the time has passed when pious words and frothy resolutions can fool the people into believing that the 40-hour week is not a menace to our war effort and that it will keep the wagon wheels moving. Is it through plain incompetence or for some other sinister reason that at each week-end hundreds of railway wagons are held up and industry's. output is clogged simply because many of the workers

are operating under an award; sUpulates.a4.o-hoittMeekiM?n'|?Mgh the railways are listed by'ffie-Govern-, ment as an essential:war industry?v , " Millicampi" ..commenting-on-an gation that ?passengers? are sitting on important committees to the exclusion of workers and on a reference by a speaker at a local radio station to "passengers" as status-men, says that status-men may be useful if they-are also workers, although ability should be the only qualification. In a report of a sittine of the Armed Forces Appeal Board at Auckland the following sentence appeared in regard to an appeal on behalf of an X-ray operator:—"lt had been found impossible to secure additional trained staff " Yet ■men with the required qualifications have offered their services to the Minister and the three services; a few have been made use of, a number are. serving, but not in their professional capacity, while others have been informed in no uncertain manner thatfthey are not required. Why should this deplorable wastage be allowed? Let those responsible develop a breadth of outlook, vision, and tolerance in selecting and making use of men and women to the best advantage. There are available suitable returned service men of this and the last war to take the place of "passengers" on important committees and the various civic services. There is many a true word .spoken in jest. Thank God for the humorist who said " I've some brains that have never been used yet," Let us; make use of this dormant surplus—nationally!