MEN IN MIDDLE EAST Mr. Sullivan Replies To Mr. Doidge

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 108, 1 February 1943, Page 4

MEN IN MIDDLE EAST Mr. Sullivan Replies To Mr. Doidge

‘‘The firebrand of the Nationalist Parly, Mr. Doidge, ALP.,. denounces me for having made what he describes as a 'most mischievous statement in the course of this by-election,’ and he added, ‘The Minister has disclosed that it is the desire and the intention of the Government to return out- division from tlie Middle East ns soon as it is possible to do so,’ ” said the Minister of Supply and Munitions. Mr. Sullivan. “I assert that my statement was a fair and reasonable one.” added the Minister, “indeed, so fair and so reasonable that the man who takes exception to it and its meaning is himself so unreasonable—indeed irrational —that the public will be astonished and puzzled at tlie Nationalist attitude. “Our heroic boys have fought through Greece, Crete. Egypt, Libya and Tripolitania and it is beyond belief that even Mr. Doidge would deprive them, or at least, those who have seen longest service, of the opportunity of being returned to their dear ones and their homeland at the first reasonable opportunity,” said Mr, Sullivan, “The subject was not projected into the campaign by me. It was reported to me before my first address in the Christchurch East campaign that the subject had been raised at meetings ill the electorate by certain speakers who were claiming and perhaps with some reason. that it was impossible for New Zealand to maintain two divisions overseas —one in the Middle East and one in the Pacific. In view of (hat fact, and knowing what had happened in Parliament, which had indicated a unanimous opinion on the part of the House. I publicly deprecated any attempt, particularly on the part of any member of Parliament, to exploit the anxieties and affections of relatives and others on the issue. “Subterranean Campaign.”

“For that the flamboyant Mr. Doidge takes me to task. Arrogantly he would deny the Government the right to state its case and bring out in the open the subterranean campaign against it on the two division issue. When Mr. Doidge advocates freedom of speech, does he mean such freedom only for the Government's critics? If so, I can only say Jo him: nothing doing. “Reverting to the main issue of tlie possible return of the division, the Government, through the Prime Minister, maintains contact and consultation with Mr. Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, on the question. All relevant considerations such as the state of the military campaign, availability of shipping and safety of transport will receive full attention in determining Hie question of time. Above all. Parliament will be consulted before final decisions are made, “If circumstances should render it imperative to rqtain the division in the Middle East.” said the Minister, “surely the country will applaud a decision to endeavour at least to bring back as many as possible of our war-scarred veterans who have been there the longest whenever arrangements can be made.”