DEFENCE

Southland Times, Issue 23782, 1 April 1939, Page 19

DEFENCE

To The Editor Sir, —As “Fair Play” has waited until I announced my retirement from this correspondence before making an untrue statement, I ask the opportunity of reply. “Fair Play” states that Mr Denham received no invitation to attend the High School parade or the citizens’ meeting in the evening. Neither did I, but I was at both. The parade was open to the public, and the evening meeting was a public one, advertised as such. I know of no invitations at all being issued. Surely if everyone has to wait for someone else to send a personal invitation to attend a meeting to consider the defence of his country we are not going to get very far, and we naturally expect our Members of Parliament to set the example to our leading citizens and the public. Since that meeting Mr Denham has held a meeting on defence matters himself. “Fair Play’’ appears to belong to the kind who believe in sewer rats, blowflies, liars, cowards, spitoon philosophers, scroungers and curs. lam quite content to leave him there.—Yours, etc., SERVICE FIRST. March 31, 1939.

To The Editor

Sir, —Let me tell Mr Dakin that I have a son nearing recruiting age whose fingers of the trigger hand will be chopped off by myself if he is com'pelled to fight for British capitalist interests. If British capitalists have interests in Hong Kong let them go and protect them.—Yours, etc., SANS EYES, SANS TEETH, SANS EVERYTHING. March 27, 1939. [This letter has been considerably curtailed.—Editor, The Southland Times.]

To The Editor

Sir, —When replying very briefly to “Apathetic Albert,” I of necessity put my views very crudely. I should like to express my views on the matter of refusing to defend one’s native land more fully. First of all should be called on to declare their willingness to fight for their native land, men and women over 60 years. Such men and women by money contributions and other methods can do a great deal for their native land. No punishment should be inflicted on Albert and company, which had not previously been inflicted on recalcitrants over 60 years of age. Then I would call on those between 50 and 60 years, between 40 and 50, between 30 and 40 in succession. And again the punishment of recalcitrants should be the same as that to be meted out to Albert and company. At that stage I would proceed, year by year, those between 29 and 30, between 28 and 29, and so on right down to the age of 21. The criminals are the older men and women who have corrupted our youth. Below the age of 21 I would not go. Those younger than 21 would probably be converted by seeing their mothers and sisters shot down in actual warfare. The criminals, I repeat, are the grown-up men and women, pastors, priests, teachers; no mercy should be shown to such.—Yours, etc., J. P. DAKIN. March 31, 1939.