SECRET SESSION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 160, 6 June 1940, Page 8

SECRET SESSION

GREAT WAR RECALLED. REASONS DIFFERENT, (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, June 5. Unlike the secret session held during the last war, to-day’s meeting of Parliament is not for the purpose of disclosing to members information not available to the public regarding conditions.. on the fighting front. This is a reassuring point for the community. The session is being held at the request of. National members for tlie purpose of being able to hear full and frank explanations by Ministers regarding every phase of the Dominion’s activities. Information can be given in this way which it would not be in the State’s interests to disclose generally.

The secret session of the last war was held on September 25, 1917. The problems of the Allied forces at that time were formidable. Gallipoli had been evacuated in December, 1915. New Zealand’s Expeditionary Force were actively - fighting in France. The main body of men' had been away from their homes for three years, and a proposal that this gallant force should be relieved for the purpose of returning to New Zealand found enthusiastic approval. Unfortunately, not a man could then be spared from the Western Front, though it was not desirable to encourage the enemy by making this plain. The National Government, therefore, took Parliament into its confidence regarding the military , situation, and from this secret session came the resolution that information had been conveyed with very much regret that there were difficulties and dangers in the carrying out of the scheme for granting furlough to members of the Expeditionary . Force, and these difficulties were of such moment that it had become necessary to cancel the arrangement. Within a fortnight the desperate struggle in the mud at Passehendaele in which the New Zealanders played a prominent part made it plain to all how difficult and dangerous wonld have been the withdrawal of thousands of well-seasoned soldiers.