SETTLERS' SONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXV, Issue 10713, 4 November 1915, Page 4

SETTLERS' SONS.

The fact that in certain cases She sons of well-to-do sA'ttler.s in the " who ar c able-bodied, unmarried, and wUiout have -shown' rip • disposition to enlist for sorvico, is reported to be seriously affcctraig rociuiiting in this district. Working men have been -lsaavd to say. "W-heiv the son of so-and-so enlists. I'll eiiJisfc." There is, of course, .no excuse for one. man .shirking his duty .-because' another, fails to -iveccpt his responsibility. Jk.U the same, it is very much ;t« he regretted tlint a few of our settlers— I'ortunaS.dy very few—are offering nr» encouragement t.i> their sons to <'nlist. It 'is painful to have u-o refe-'-publieiv t 0 this matter. But te is necessary, hi an hour of grave national peril, to point iei<:, to (Mvht settle.'' that, he is under a deep -obligation tVi the iStat<>., and that- it is Im* sacred duty to give not only of h'.s wealth, but of his flesh and blood, Lo maiii'tain tl>f.> honour and integrity of tlio Empire. .Men who deliberately discourage their sons from enlisting, when tliere is no rea.sonablu excuse for doing so. will have troubled consciences when the war as war. Tluvy will not deserve tlio protection .of the British Flag, under which they, their fa mi lit--'; and thenelates have hitherto found security.