DEFENCE MINISTER ATTACKED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2509, 12 October 1915, Page 6

DEFENCE MINISTER ATTACKED

IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

STRONG RfPLY BY SIR FRANCIS BELL. Speaking in the legislative Council last ovening on the second reading of tlic Defence Amendment Bill, tho Hon. J. Ban- regretted that tho clause extending pensions to those mombors of the Expeditionary Forces who died before leaving' New Zealand had not been inserted in the main Bill. Instead of giving 'a lead in matters, regarding defence, the Government had, ho said, hoen forced to take tho lead from the people. There did not seem to have been a man in the Government able to gaugo public opinion. Ho referred to the setting up of special battalions such as the Trentham Regiment, > amed Lord Liverpool's Own. Dissatisfaction had thus been caused.'. A mistake had also been made in regard to Trentham Camp. Wherever tliev had anything :of any consequence there had been blunders. They even sent a special correspondent to tho front when even the man in the street know that ho, was not necessary.' Tlio only satisfactory thing was that on every occasion the people of the country had risen above those appointed to control affairs. •: Nobody was con-" stilted about the establishment of Lord Liverpool's; Own, and bitterness had been caused between on section and another; One could start from the very bottom of recruiting, and there had been a . mere '.'muddling" along. They liad put. a man in office' to control, defence matters, and they had a right to criticise lum. v

The Hon. Sir Francis Bell: You are abusing him, not criticising him. Mr. Barr: "I am not. He cannot rise to the occasion.; If I wan,ted to abuse him I have plenty of occasion to do fid."

- The Hon. Capt. Baillie said that he was rather; surprised at tho sweeping statements made by the hon. member against' the Minister of Defence, and everyone connected with the Department. Mistakes had been made before, and tho mistakes made on this occasion were : not the fault of the Minister of Defence or his officers. They had done their utmost in an emergency. The /urgency'of the case was responsible for the setting up of Trenthara. The charge was a 'most : unwholesome one, and ho was surprised at it.' Mistakes of a similar nature Lad , occurred in England. The Hon; Sir William Hall-Jones,also disagreed with the attack on,the Minister of Defence, and said that he agreed '.with everything the Minister had done. No fewer than- 37,000 men bad left New Zealand -to carry on the work of the Empire, and that had been done in a very ; short space,; of. time. In connection with every, camp t'hey • had some trouble. Be'ventured to say had the Minister known the war was going to; last'so long he would have at once put. Trentham Gamp in t-lio state in which it was to-day.'; All the troubles were incidental to the work which each country.', had -to do', .-Tho Minister of Defencehad done work .which he (tlio Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones) agreed .with in almost every respect. . Some people would say that New Zmland had not done her. part, but 37,000 men sent /from; a population of . a million was excellent. It' Canada liad sent in proportion she would have 300,000 rnon at the front. now.

The Hon. C. H. Mills deprecated the attack on the Minister.

Tho Hon. R; Moore said he thought Air. Barr's speech was simply a tirade of abuse; i Almost every "member would agree that the Minister of'Defenco had worked harder than anybody else. Ho had also given his .own-son, and tho only thanks ho got, was abuse. Who was the man who .first suggested an Expeditionary Forco P Who ; was the man who . purchased Canadian rifles which wero now at the: front doing good service? : He thought the Minister had shown great foresight. . Mistakes had been made, but, had been made to a greater extent in Australia. He was astonished that any member should make an attack-at this stage. If Mr. Barr had had suggestions to make ho should have got up earlier in the session.. What he had. done was te remain practically silent, ;aiid -now he "stuck a stiletto',' into the Minister. , Instead of accusing the Minister of Defence they should have' complimented him.. The Hon. T. Maegibbon spoke in somewhat similar terms. Recriminations, lie held, wero not good. There were lots of people wise after the event. So far: from condemning tho Defence Department they should join in applauding them, and they should give a great deal of; "kudos" to the Minister. He did not think they-had any cause to complain ;of "Lord Liverpool's Own." It was . nothing new to attach a distinguished name to a regiment. Minister Replies to Criticism. Tho Hon. Sir Francis Bell said that it was_ far: too. late in tho session to enter into a discussion on tho conduct of the affairs of the Defence Departin out by the Govorilment. It was not , for-him, as a member of the Governto express any opinion on the Question of'.whether what* had been said was- fair criticism, ;but he did .want to,: say,something in regard to tlie remarks about tho.Hon. Mr. Allen. "I am ; proud to have been associated with him," continued Sir' Francis Bell. "Ho is a mail/who has devoted himself night and day to; the service of tho country. Ho had-so grave,' -so tremendous a respon-sibilitj-—responsibilities of the nature of which I venture to say, 110 man who has not been a member of the. Government, even a member of the Government who has not been within the inner circles of the Defence' Department—can form any idea at a 11.,:. And he has never wavered

in his efforts, and he has never resented criticism; lie, lias accepted'it; and has thought;and'i .thought over matters which have been submitted to him from inside ;and from'outside, and lie has endeavoured, so; far as time, would allow, tr> show consideration in the personal communications that others have had

with him, hut time was limited, has bean limited to him always. Only those who have been closely associated with him know how ■ difficult it has been for him to find time: within the 18 hours a day he works, for the work that has been done by him. There are other matters that we know, that we cannot speak about. We know the commendation of his work that lias been received from the Army Council and the Imperial authorities, not merely of his personal work,, but that which has been done under the organisation of which he was the head and front. I would like thoso who speak of my hon. fr:end from tho outside to discuss with his officers, with the men who are his close servants, his work. Ask them what they think. I will .be satisfied, and I think lie will also accept what they say of his work, of his consideration of what was submitted to them. The Hon. Mr. Barr was perfectly within his right in criticising the Government, hut it was necessary, when so strong an attack is recorded, that one who like myself is able.to speak from close association, from absolute experience, and from personal knowledge, should say that the attack is not just." '