THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 121, 15 February 1919, Page 10

THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE

Sir,—'Would you kindly allow space in which to nay tribute to cur Acting-Prime Minister and Minister of Defence? As one who came in touch with Sir James Allen while working abroad with our soldiers, I found that his deepest inter* est and desire was for the welfare of cur men. He has given of his best, not only of himself, but the sin in whom his deepest hopes were centred. Sir James Allen knows what the great giving has meant in the great, sacrifice which this war has called for. Tt has been almost bevond human endurance. let the magnificent. and glorious manner in which he has stood up against it, has shown the man that he is. r.nd truly the man in the right place, for one has absolute confidence in him, knowing as wo do that he is not. out. for what he can get. but to do his utmost for the ecuntry. Not only has ho bce» the Minister of Defence, shouldering the tremendous responsibility that office entailed, but for some time during the war he has Acting-Prime Minister, carrying the added weight of the colonv being disorganised in the calling up of our men. Sir James Allen has stood unswervingly to bis post, doing his utmost for the benefit of all as far as it was humanly possible lo do so, and as he sa\v it. It has been one of the biggest things any man in New Zealand has been called nnon to do. He bus done it nobly and well, for which he lias the true gratitude of every woman of New Zealand.—l am. etc.. A SOLDIER'S MOTHER.