PLEASURE IN WAR TIME

Southland Times, Issue 24165, 29 June 1940, Page 7

PLEASURE IN WAR TIME

To The Editor

Sir,—“Patriotic” asks if “Ex-Soldier” and I can suggest some way of raising money other [ban by dances for patriotic purposes. Yes, I can, in very few words: “Give until it hurts.” In today’s paper we read of Sir Kingsley Wood describing “how, quite spontaneously, without any Government appeal, people had been sending in to the Treasury gifts of very substantial sums of money and valuable articles.” That is the spirit we want in New Zealand today. Why should we in these days of stress and strain, require to have our money taken from our pockets and, in many instances, well-filled purses, by a process of extraction such as dances and art unions? Does “Patriotic” realize that in these days we are deciding whether we remain British or become German or perhaps Japanese subjects and thereby become serfs and slaves to these countries. What use would our money be then? It would be worthless as far as we are concerned. The amount we give now may decide our fate. As 'Ex-Soldier” in his letter states, “The clarion call now is, Awake, more work, less pleasure, above all, humiliation and a return to God that w.e may know His power to help in time of need.” If ever there was a time when we needed Divine aid, that time is now. Let those spiritually dead churches that use the ball room to bolster up their finances and society generally, drop these means of raising money and give freely as they have never given before. Our nation’s destiny is at stake and men and women of prayer and faith are needed, also a casting aside of the

many things that are not of good repute.—Yours, etc., PATRIOT. June 28, 1940.

To The Editor Sir,—Will you please spare me a few lines to answer “Patriot’s” letter. I wonder if “Patriot” realizes that the majority of these dances are for patriotic benefits. Does your correspondent think that the boys who are soon to leave all those they held dear to them should be deprived of the little pleasure that is left for them? Perhaps some of these so called wasted nights will give them many happy thoughts when they are in the trenches. I would like “Patriot” to have boy friends going to the war. Perhaps like many another person of today he would be glad to do what little he could to make their last days happy. As for the dances I for one have been attending Saturday night dances for a number of years and as yet I have not attended one that was continued, as “Patriot” suggested, two hours after midnight. I wonder what “Patriot” is doing for the soldiers? I suppose he sits with a long lip wondering where this war is going to end. Would it not be better if “Patriot” was to do a hard week’s work? By the end of the week he would feel justified in taking a little relaxation at one of the well-conducted Saturday night dances and thus help the funds to buy much needed comforts for the soldiers and also help to brighten a little the lives of others. I am sure he would not be nearly so depressed.—Yours, etc., LAMBETH WALK. June 27, 1940.