CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24896, 21 April 1942, Page 6

CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE

A. C. Robertson asks where the justification is for Rome being considered to be so holy as to be exempt from bombing in face of the manner in which she wars against us without a visible cause for so doing? " For the Cause" suggests that it is undesirable and invidious to report the names of ladies in charge of stalls on the occasion of such days as Poppy Day. The names are not mentioned of the large number of willing workers who in many instances devote much more actual time to the cause than those in charge of corner or stall, but do not seek publicity. " Clear the Decks," referring to Mr M. J. Kelly's challenge to Mr A. C. Cameron to meet the Labour people and justify his assertions concerning the indifference of many of them towards the patriotic cause, says that Mr Cameron has met far severer challenges than this one. His physical appearance shows the result of his challenge on the battle field. While in his broadminded outlook, Mr Cameron is ready to meet everyone in a spirit of good fellowship, the winning of the war comes before everything with him. "Democrat," replying to Mr James Rae's assertion that the Leader of the Opposition was tilting at windmills when he commented on the disparity between the soldiers' pay of 7s a day and the £4 4s earned by Home Guardsmen for 12 hours' work in loading ships, asks for an explanation of Mr Fraser's position of head of the Government while the Labour Party dictates how the country is to be governed and whether it is necessary to send 80 men to Parliament when Mr James Roberts, who is said to receive £ISOO a year as a Waterfront Commissioner, is dictator. Will Mr Rae explain the connection between the miners on the West Coast going slow, and the inability of the railways to get sufficient coal for their passenger and goods traffic? "Reality" considers that the statement attributed to Mr R. G. Casey thai " the closest co-operation between Britain and the United States is the only hope for the salvation of the world" is little short of a gratuitous insult. To Russia, as our ally in this ghastly conflict, is due an expression of unmeasured gratitude. Unless wc are prepared freely to express, that gratitude and regard her equally with America as an ally, then we are undoubtedly weakening our efforts towards victory and final peace. With all due respect to America it can truthfully be said that she has yet to prove herself in the conflict against the Axis Powers whereas Russia has already given proof of her ability successfully to meet Germany's arrogant might.