THE WHITE FEATHER.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 23 June 1915, Page 5

THE WHITE FEATHER.

May I request a small amount of space in your valuable paper to comment briefly on three letters appearing in your last issue.

These letters were headed " The White Feather " and surely were not intended by their authors to be taken seriously ?

The first was a strained attempt at self-righteousness tinged with comic paper sarcasm.

The second had a sense of humor, and put a good case.

The third exposed a very weak argument, and the bombast about

" seeing the author of it personally " held the threat of a person who knows his case is weak.

Now, sir, I maintain that these letters are not likely to stop practical jokers sending white feathers if the mood to do so is on them, and a worse position than rushing hot-headed into print could not have been taken up by the recipients. Thanking you in anticipation. AMUSED.

On getting last Wednesday's paper I was surprised to see able-bodied young men rushing indignantly into print because some practical joker had posted them white feathers. The whole thing would perhaps be unworthy of notice except for the sneer in each case that the people would,be better employed in doing something for the Hospital Ship or the soldiers. What have they done in the matter ? Now sir, lam in a position to state that the people ofWarkworth, with a few notable exceptions, have responded in a most generous manner to every appeal and are still doing so, especially the ladies, and from a long and intimate knowledge of them I am prepared to say that they will continue to do so on any and every occasion in which a deserving cause requires their assistance.

' The call rings loud and true To all men sound and fit Your country's call to you How will you answer it? When others do and dare Across the narrow sea Can your own heart declare " They have no need of me." ' ALL BRITISH.