CALL TO ARMS

Southland Times, Issue 24113, 30 April 1940, Page 2

CALL TO ARMS

To The Editor Sir, —I would be a devoted supporter of the Labour Party but for its attitude on the question of conscription. I could forgive it for trying to ruin education in this country. But what is the good of having a happy and prosperous working population, if, owing to the spread of pacifism, this country of ours may be taken from us by any war-like nation? The first duty of a man is to defend his parents and his family. If he becomes a pacifist he denies that he has any such duty. He is prepared to look on while his nearest relations are put to death or tortured. New Zealand is a fine country and should be inhabited by brave men. If we have ceased to be brave men, the sooner we are exterminated the better. Let some nation with courage replace us. Only the brave deserve the fair; and this fair land of ours deserves to be occupied by the brave. “Oh, look,” says someone to a pacifist, “your poor daughter is being shamefully treated by that villain.” “What a pity,” says the pacifist; “but what can I do? It is wrong to resist evil; I must overcome evil with good.” And so the pacifist’s daughter must put up with any treatment the villain cares to inflict, until the villain has been converted.

“No, I won’t fight,” says a Labourite, “because this is a capitalistic war.” So, to spite the capitalists, we are all to be enslaved. Of course, the real reason is that the Labourite in question thinks that he will be safe in prison and that, after the war is over, he can live on the fat of the land ruling over those who were crippled in the fighting. The soldiers of a certain regiment were asked to provide a few volunteers for a dangerous task. “Those willing to volunteer take one step forward,” said the officer. The whole regiment took one step forward. So it should be in New Zealand. This coaxing of young men should be quite unnecessary and should be regarded as an insult. “New Zealanders, young and old, who are willing to die for New Zealand, one step forward.” —Yours, etc., J. P. DAKIN. April 29, 1940.