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Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 594, 5 January 1916, Page 6

A correspondent, "Unionist," in :i letter which appears in this issue, insists that "inasmuch as human life is essentially more precious than wealth, conscription of flesh and blood must he preceded by conscription of wealth." This theory is all very well as a theory, but what our correspondent overlooks is that the Empire's chief need at the present moment is men, not wealth. IF the New Zealand Government suddenly decided to confiscate the major portion of all the war profits, summoned a special meeting of Parliament, passed the necessary legislation, rounded up all those people who have become richer by reason of the war, and appropriated their surplus wealth, it would avail nothing if at the same, time New Zealand could not find the reinforcements required. It has been repeated a thousand times that only by obtaining a sufficient number of soldiers can England turn the scale against the enemy, hence Lord Derby's scheme, and the form of compulsion that follows it. The tens of thousands of workers and young men who left their professional occupation to go to the front made no such demand. The Empire's need was sufficient for them. The Imperial authorities called for so many men per month, and, until recently, that response was a matter for pride. The men sleeping the long sleep at Anzac, those who are engaged on other fronts, saw their duty, and did it. If the hundreds of people who have been enriched by the war cannot do likewise —and, as a general rule, they are shirking their responsibilities—they may well be left to the lender mercies of an outraged public opinion and an awakened Government. The Sun holds no brief for such selfish individuals. On the contrary, we have done what we can to belabour them into doing the right thing. Their day is yet to come. Those wilh the broadesl shoulders, financially speaking, will have to hear the greatest burdens imposed on New Zealand by the war. That is inevitable.' But the cry today is for men, and men We must have, iV not by the voluntary system, (hen by compulsion. There would be no necessity for conscription if the anli-conscriptionists did their dulv bv voluntaryism.