SOME SLACKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1915, Page 6

SOME SLACKERS.

To the Editor. Sir,—From what one can gather from press reports tlie recruiting business is becoming acute. From the wav farmers arc beginning to look round' for assistance the labor problem for production is also becoming acute, and the fact that married men with families have felt the call and enlisted no one can doubt. Unless a different method is adopted there will be serious difficulties to face for year? to come. Already female labor has to be utilised, together with that of young children at dairy work. Otherwise it will have to stop, and as one who has given three sons for his country s cause, I desire to enter n protest against the way things are being done at present, and if I tread on someone's | poms I cant help it . Facts are stubborn things, and the wilful slacker has to be hit hard so that lie will recognise his duty. In a big scope of district from Inglewood to Tariki there are hundreds of young fellows who fight shy of the reorulting call. Many of them are New Zealand-born Poles, 'whose fa thers were practically driven out of their native country by oppression, and who

'have benefited by the British (lag's protection. One would think the younger generation would shoiv some gratitude. Then we have many who, when in the uniform of Territorials, could put on a big swagger on the streets, and while at the yearly camp be so attentive as to earn stripes, but these are the fellows who, when real business is on, hide behind' their daddies and their mammies. The behaviour of such individuals before the war was nauseating, but now war is on they allow married men to shpw them their duty. It is difficult to find a name to fit them. Then we have others who are proposing to g-et married and so shelter themselves behind a woman's skirts to delay the call of their country as long as possible or for all time. It is hard to think that something cannot be done to overcome the "hang-back" business. It is hard that a man should risk his sons' lives and limbs for such kittle-cattle, and when one hears of a man (a one-time servant of the public) practically belittling tlce actions of those who undertake to do their duty, can anyone wonder that as a parent I wish to protest? All round I hear married men exclaim, "I'm ready any time, but why are these strong young fellows roaming about? Oughtn't they to go first ?" However, Sir, I trust others will take up the protest, in the hope that for their manhood's sake they will do the right thing and do it quickly.—l am, etc., GEORGE THOMPSON. Rugby Road, Tariki.