FIGHTING LEADERS OMITTED FROM "WAR EFFORT"

Chronicle (Levin), 2 September 1946, Page 2

FIGHTING LEADERS OMITTED FROM "WAR EFFORT"

■ '■ ■■ ■ ■ « " ■ ■^»l " r A charge that Now Zealaad poli tioians are aggrandised and just tributet denied to the Doininion's fighting lead ers in the .oilicial brochure, "Wai Effort,'' is made by a eorrespondent it a lotter to the Now Zealand Herald 11 e writes: — Wc read that in Kussia the Com muniat Partv has pushed all the victorious marshuls and generals into ob: senri'y. New Zealand 's Labour Government follows the same line in its preelection brochure, "War Effort." Let us eompare the treatment of New Zealand politicians and serviee leadon respeetively in this publieatioiu Politicians: Portraits of 10 are print ed. In an introductory article, ' ' Organisation for War," 24 are mentioned by aame, oven including that fleetiug Ministerial liguro, Dr. D. G. McMillan. Three are named three times each and three twice. The politieal war organ- " isat lon is explained in detail. Serviee Leaders: Goneral Freyberg ia depicted in a separate fuli-page portrait and two small campaigu photographs, but nowhere is it stated specifieally that he commanded the Seeond N.Z.E.F. II is name oc.urs only twiee in the text, and then because it is desired to quote his words. Kear- Admiral W. E. Parry is mentioned once ineidentallv, to cover his tribute to New Zeaianders at the River Plate." Major-General Kippeuberger appears unco, but only as ofiice r in charge of prisoncrs of war in Britain. That is the whole lot. No other senior officer is mentioned any where. One iooks in vain for references to such names as lloran in the Navy; Puttick, Inglis, Kippenberger (in the field), Parkinson, Barrow clough, Stevens, Hargest', Miles and Clifton in the Army; Isitt, Buckley, Wallingford, Clark Hall and Koberts in ihe Air Force. Yot tliere is room Lo name two oflieials of the Patriolic Fund Board. Portraits of Cight V.C. 's are featured and the exploils of "Cobber" Kain in tho K.A.F. are rightlv noted, bui tliere is no mention of Air Marshal Sir Keith Park and his air defence of Malta. In his i'oreword Mr. Fraser has the efl'rontery to call the story an "epic." If Ilomer had written the "Iliad" in the sauie fashion, wliat should we know of Achilles, Hector, Ajax, Pairoclus, Nestor and Agameiunon? No. All the priiieipals have been hustled off the stage at Ihe elose of the play's last, act, and Ihe curtain rises again to fiiid the stage manager and the whole crew of scene shift«rs and propertv inen lined up, sinirking aud waiting for t-lie applau.se of a grateful audience. k