THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With WHICH IS INCORPORATED " The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." Helensville, Thursday, Sept. 23, 1915 ANSWERED IN BLUFF

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 September 1915, Page 2

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With WHICH IS INCORPORATED " The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." Helensville, Thursday, Sept. 23, 1915 ANSWERED IN BLUFF

THE ECHO thinks very little of Hon. Mr Massey's attempt to throw asphyxiating gas in the eyes of the people on the " Transport boat supply," by comparing these times of modern submarines and floating mines to the Boer War time, when there were no such dangers for our transport ships. It is a lucky, omen for Mr Massey that we have a National Cabinet, or out he would go upon this vital question alone. . Government had better make a move at once, or our brave defenders will object to being transported to the front without sufficient boats being guaranteed on board transports for the safety of the men should the enemy come along to indulge in their scheme of playful murder. The Lyttelton Times says : " The explanation, or excuse, given by Mr.Massey in the House when a question was put to him on this subject seems ridiculously inadequate. The Prime Minister pointed to the days of the Boer war and to the fact that not one of the transports sent to South Africa witth troops came to grief. An obvious comment, which must have occurred to every one of Mr Massey's hearers, was that as the Boers had no submarines, mines, or fleet of any kind the shipping of their foes was not in much danger. Mr Massey admitted that there were not enough boats on the transports to save all the men, and the clear inference was that the Defence Department deliberately took the risk because the carrying of a number of boats would mean reduced deck space. In their own interests to prevent wastage of the fighting to ensure that expensively trained men reach the place where they are needed those responsible for the transport of troops must surely see that full boat equipment is desirable."