The Tuapeka Times AND Goldfields Reporter & Advertiser "Measures, not Men." WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1916. WHO ARE TO BE EXEMPTED?

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 6389, 30 August 1916, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times AND Goldfields Reporter & Advertiser "Measures, not Men." WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1916. WHO ARE TO BE EXEMPTED?

Bincc tho War began much Las been spoken and written ou the supreme; value of discipline to the soldier. We arc not disposed to cavil at the dogma which ranks submisisou to routine and authority as the most valuable quality of a fighting man. To have one's lii'c and labours regulated by rule and compass is uo doubt a good remedy for slackness and inefficiency. But, as iu the case of many other medicines, the proscribes of this wholesome medicine for the body politic arc often averse to taking a dose of it themselves. Solfdiscipline, though the highest form of discipline, is yet the virtue which our moralists find most conspicuously lacking in our conduct during the present national crisis. Taking a general survey of tho community we find that selfindulgonce, and not self-discipline, is the most popular habit. Legalised gambling at the totnlisator is increasing at an enormous rate. The drinking of intoxicating liquors does not slacken with tho augmented cost of living, and, [ though the Government, with the sanction of Parliament, has made an effort to reduco drinking by its prohibition of the time-honoured custom of "treating " we may bo sure habitues of public bars will devise means to defeat the spirit of the regulation. In the vast mass of literature evoked by the War, inoroovor, wo And little cvidonce of that'' ancient sacrifice, as humble and i

a contrite heart," to which we *re exhorted in Kipling'e " Bceeariontl." On the contrary we find plenty to justify a suspicion of tho provalcnco of " the hoathen heart that puts its trußt in reeking tube and iron. shard." And while we find prominont men deploring I and denouncing tho groat importation of luxurious motor cars rosulting in the exclusion of more necessary imports from cargoes shipped to this country, with the ultimato consequence of a hampering of industry and an increased expense of production, we have not heard of any of our opulent fellowpatriots voluntarily foregoing tho convenience and pleasure appertaining to the ownership and use of an automobile. Generally we may affirm that exhorters to economy and self-sacrifice aro far iuoro common in iur community than practical exponents of those virtues so desirablo in war-time. Procept is more I popular than practice. We are all too I prone to follow the '' primrose path of dalliance, and reck not our own rede." This is going to be tho main obstacle to tho sucessful and equitablo administration of tho Compulsory Military Service Act. As in the Motherland tho granting of exemptions is, we fear, going to be a stumbling block, and a cause of dissatisfaction. Although no tribunals for dealing with applications for exemption have boon set up, already a movemont is boginning with a view of giving the authorities a lead iu this matter. The othor day the Unit* ed Press Association sent a message from Auckland telling how tho Mayor of Auckland had been postered with anonymous letters suggesting that ho ought to enlist. Evidently tho Mayor of Auckland is of military age, and,' therefore, in accordance with the Act establishing conscription, and with tho assurance of the Government that neithor rank, nor wealth, nor office will bo allowed, per sc, to interfero with the calling out of men otherwise fit for military service, the Mayor of Auckland must, in due timo, bo prepared to enroll himself as a soldier for tho front. But tho members of the City Council of Auckland do nut want to lose their Mayor, and, embracing the opportunity afforded by tin; anonymous letters, have expressed their opinion that lie should bo exempted, claiming that he, iu common with thousands of others, is doing tho Empire greater service by continuing in his present position than by exchanging that position for tho firing line. They attached thoir signatures to a memorandum of protest and sympathy stating their conviction that only persons of unbalanced minds could have been guilty of such conduct ns suggesting enlistment to their worthy Mayor, They urged that Government will not allow miners to enlist, presumably seeking to prompt the inference that mayors are as needful to industry as miners. They asserted that those engaged in munition-making, coalmining, ship-re-pairing, ship-building, and thq producers of food and clothing for our troops are doing their " bit " equally well with those who shoulder tho rifle, and finally enumerated the services tho Mayor of Auckland is rendering the country, to wit —dovotion to civil affairs, administration of patriotic funds, recruiting, and rendering services to returned men. Having thus stated the Mayor of Auckland's claims for exemption tho City Council of Auckland assured him that he is in his right place, and that he has their unabated confidence, and cordial support —apparently in the event of his being called up for military service. .Now, wo wonder how far this thing will go. If Mayors of military ago are to be cxemptod from service at the front on the pleas advanced by te Auckland City Council, why not city and borough councillors and town clerks of military ago ! And if we admit their claims for exemption why not those on behalf of chair won and members of county councils, and officials under them 1 Add chairmen, members, and officials of our other multifarious local bodies, harbour hoards, education boards, high school boards, land boards, and school committees. Why the' list might be stretched nlmoßt to the crack of doom. Where are we to gel our men if nil these arc oxeiuptcd t And is it not within the rights of any local body, or, indeed, of nny assemblangc of persons elected by their fellow citizens, to make tlu< same public protest ns did the Auckland City Council, and on similar grounds t And lot u> contemplate for n moment tho rationality of a locnl body which puts in tho same class ns indispensable industries, mining, munition-making, ship-build-ing, ship-repairing, food production, clothing production, and civic activity which consists chiefly of talking and listening to others' talk, If tho Auckland City Council's notions of what constitutes the sine qua non in war time arc accepted in their entirety, there are rocks ahead for our military authorities.