THE GRIEVANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1916, Page 6

THE GRIEVANCE.

Tu the h'ditur. Sir,—When I drew attention tun case at W'aitui, which certain residents fell aggrieved over, I iirst made sure that the same was a fact. I did not ask for names, nor would t help publish tlieni, and so long as my informants were reliable and can vouch for the information given, that is all I ask. Now, Mr. Fagan, of Waitui, makes it clear that he was the individual alluded to. I'm very sorry that he should have the opinion that lie had enemies who would attempt a cowardly attack on himself. lie has, unfortunately, taken the remarks too personally. He shows by his letter that the. information given me was correct, and he surely will sympathise with my informants whose feelings were outraged by the fact that neighbor who "took an active part in every patriotic movement" should at the same time employ an outsider, and if he will put himself in the other fellow's place, his sympathy would show him that he has done wrong in imputing that they were cowardly or unscrupulous persons. At all events, I wish it made clear that I did not know nor did I ask, the name of the parties interested, and am very much surprised that it should turn out as it does. However, I do not think I am wrong in saying that there is so much shifting from one district to another that the Government recognise a difficulty, and that recruiting committees are formed by local bodies to counteract such difficulty, amongst others, and I would be failing in my duty did I not draw attention to any case brought to my notice. Why should Mr. Fagan be sore over the matter? He admits the facts. Now, when lie asks me to name through your columns those who gave me information he asks just a little too much. Those who supplied the information can, if they choose, take up the matter through your columns personally, but I really see 110 need, in the face of his letter, and, more especially, as it is admitted that the young man in question has returned to his district to enlist. It's to be hoped he does, and that it is not another flutter to a secluded perch. Now, when Mr. Fa"gan asks my opinion as what I think he should do, whether he should leave his wife, family, and farm, I beg to inform him that that is a matter for his own confidence to trouble about. There are thousands of men with no wife, family, or farm who are sacrificing their health, their limbs and their lives for the protection of both him and me, and he should recognise from that the feelings of those in his district whose sons are in the thick of it. Again, there are hundreds of married men in the ranks whose conscience showed them that they should not leave all the "protecting" to. he done by single men, so here Mr. Fagan can get an example to follow without asking a (lead from myself. Personally, I might add. that, though over the age limit, inv registration card in the hands of the Defence Department shows that my services are available when necessary.—l am, etc., J. B. SIMPSON . . iMukctawa correspondent.