NO LOOKING BACK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3136, 14 July 1917, Page 9

NO LOOKING BACK

DISPATCH OF REINFORCEMENTS

THE COUNTRY'S DUTY

EMPHATIC STATEMENT BY THE

PRIME MINISTER

; A plain and omphalic statoineut that itho liorernmont. will not stand for any Seduction in reinforcements was made by the Primo Minister (the Eight Hon. W. 1 ,, . Massey) in the Houso of Kepresentattivea yesterday. Mr. W. H. Field had tjusfc given, notice of a question which, jwhilo it iiskcd for information niorely, "was i,n effect a suggestion' that wo shonlcl Snot go on sending men out of tho country if by doing so wo shonld lessen tho production'.of food. The Primo Minister said that the question was of such importance that ho preferred • to say a word about it immediately. "The suggestion evidently, is that wo should dovoto our attontion to the production of food supplies rather than send reinforcements, said Mr. ffllassoy. "1 am uot : giving , away any pocrets when I say that Ibis matter was 'discussed' by Sir Joseph Ward and iny-e-olf with representatives of the Imperial Government, and they told ' v.s that liilthough they would do their best to pu'ovido shipping to take away tho pro<luco wo havo stored in this country as (soon as they could, they gave us very definitely to understand .that (hey ranted men more than produce." Mr.' 'Wilkinson: Was that before tho [Americans camo in? .

Mr. Massey said that ho could not remember tho dote exactly, No doubt tho Imperial Government would take "way the food produced iu this country, tat. tho request and desiro of the Imperial. Wovernment as soon as ships were available. "I hope," ho said, "that tho House ■will not get tho impression that it is for the Imperial Government or the Xew Zealand Government to say ■we are going to give up sending rein- ' Iforceinents." (Hear, hear.) Mr. Field: I don't suggest that. Mr. Massey said he thought he understood the honourable member's position. But it would be a breach of faith with the men at tho front, a breach of faith to which ho .as a member of the Government could certainly. not agree. It would 1)0 a breach of faith with the Imperial Government, becauso 'the arrangement made with the'lmperial Govr . ■■ernment at'the beginning of the war was ijtha't the men sent would bo reinforced. Mr. Payne: Who promised that? Mr. Massey: The Government—and I am ono. of them. Mr. Isitt: Hear, hear, and wo are beWnd you. .; ■ ; ',. ',-.'■ . i Mr, Massey: Yes , , and the peat majority of the people , of this, country are bohind ! us. • Mr. Payne: There are three million eingle men available in America, . Mr. Massey: Does tho honourable member say wo should hang back and lean on America ? I say that this is our fight, and wo should take our full share in it. ... .■.'.. Mr. Payne: We are doing too much. Mr. Massey said that the impression should not bo allowed to go to the other parts of the -'Empire that New.- Zealand ; iras likely to withdraw from,the war. Mr. W. H. Field: Wo are very anxious as to the future.

Hγ. Jlassey: I am just as anxious inyself about the .future of this country as anyone can possibly be. The first thing we have to do is to win tho war. I tini 'afraid that the ipeople of this country Trill be called upon for greater sacrifices than they have made up, till now.: I hope it may not be so, but I believe that if vre are called upon for greater sacrifices ■we will faco them.