REPLY TO PREMIER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 115, 13 April 1940, Page 9

REPLY TO PREMIER

MR BARNARD’S CONTENTION. RECRUITING POLICY. Per Press Association. AVELLINGTON, April 12. “Alcmbers of the Select Parliamentary Committee on Defence arc willing to stimulate recruiting wherever it is backward,” stated the chairman of the committee (Hon. AV. E. Barnard, M.P-) in the course of a letter sent to the Prime Alinister (lion. P. Fraser) tonight in reply to Air Fraser’s telegram to him published to-day. Mr Barnard released a copy of his letter to the Press to-night. The text is: “I acknowledge your telegram, which I was roused out of bed to receive last (Thursday) night. Notwithstanding the information which you have received. it is clear that the services of returned soldier members of' Parliament have lioen scarcely utilised at all except possibly in a very lew isolated instances, or as curtain-raisers to your own meetings. No official arrangements have been made or encouragement given for them to address recruiting meetings throughout the Dominion. Are we to infer it is not intended to offer such facilities? II not, why? “No 7 area, which includes Napier and district, lias without any pressure raised more than its quota lor all three echelons and, I am informed, has supplied 150 men for the Second Echelon to make up deficiencies in the quotas of other districts. This method of balancing up recruiting is open to obvious objection. Members of the Select Parliamentary Committee on Defence are willing to stimulate recruiting wherever it is backward. “In regard to my own position von have entirely misinterpreted my attitude—l hope not wilfully. AY hen you or the national executive to whom you have delegated the task have replied to my original letter I shall state the full ease to the people of Napier and the Dominion and clear up your own misconstruction and any other.

“May I point out that the present war is the concern ot every New Zealander? It is not a private matter for von and the Cabinet alone. I cannot "help feeling you -do not sufficiently appreciate the worth in the present crisis of the service which conlcl be rendered bv men in or out of Parliament who 'fought- for their country in the last world war, and who have an abiding and honoured place m the hearts of their fellow New Zealanders. If that service is to be of full avail definite arrangements must be made for its utilisation and no personal feel in" or prejudice should bo allowed to stand in the way of this obvious duty.'”