Untitled

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 123, 30 June 1941, Page 4

Sir, —I would like to protest very Strongly against tfte reported speech made by Mr Doidge at Edgeeumbe last Thursday* I cannot speak strongly enough about a man of Mr Doidge's supposed intelligence who would cast a slur on the Government and our boys when he must know that New Zealand like England was unprepared for war. Admittedly we were Short of rifles in this country at the- beginning of the war and still may be but surely Mr Doidge must realise that the major : ty of our men have done eighteen months training under terrible conditions (Avith rifles) in the sand and heat of Egypt and under winter conditions in England, and I would say that by now they would hold their owr\ with any sioldiers in the world. It is evident to me Sir that there were no parents with sons overseas at this meeting or they would certainly have made him retract such malicious statement. I intend Sir to send a clipping of the paper to our worthy Member in the Middle East so that the over there can see for themselves what is in the minds of some of the politicians in this country who wani to form a National Government. Surely they would be astounded. Yours etc., A. J. ARMSTRONG, James St., Ex N.Z.E.F.