PARLIAMENTARY

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 17 July 1917, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

MEN BEFORE PRODUCE,. IMPERIAL REQUIREMENTS. NO SLACKENING OF EFFORTS. WELLINGTON, July 14. A plain and 'Emphatic statement of the Government’s determination to maintain the reinforcements was made by the Prime" Minister in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Massey spoke in reference to a suggestion in a question of which Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) had given notice that the Dominion should not go on sending men out of the ’cdfintry if by so doing the production of food would be lessened.

“The suggestion evidently is that we should devote our attention to the production of food supplies rather than send Reinforcements,” said Mr. Massey. “I am not giving away any secrets when T say that this matter was discussed by Sir Joseph Ward and myself with representatives oT the Imperial Government, and we were told that although they would do their best to provide shipping to take away the produce we have stored in this country as soon as they could, they gave us very definitely to understand that they wanted men more than produce.” Mr. Wilkinson (Egmont). Was that before the Americans came in? c Mr. Massey said he could not remember the date exactly. No doubt the Imperial Government would take away the food produced in this country at the request and desire of the Imperial Government as soon as ships were available. “I hope the House will not get the impression,” he continued, “that it is possible for the Imperial Government or the New Zealand Government to say we are going to give up sending reinforcements.” (Hear, hear.)

Mr. Field: I don’t suggest'that. Mr. Massey said it would be a breach ,of faith with the men at the front—a breach of faith to which he, as a member of the Government, could certainly not agree. It would be a breach of faith with the Imperial Government, because the arrangement made at the beginning of the war was that the men sent would be reinforced.

Mr. J. Payne (Grey Lynn): Who promised that?

Mr; Massey’: The Government, and I am one of them.

Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North): Hear, hear, and we are behind you.

Mr. Massey: Yes, and the great majority of the people of this country are behind us.

Mr. Payne: There are 3,000,000 single men available- in America. Mr. Massey: Does the honourable member say we should hang back and lean on America? I say that this is our fight, and we should take our full share in it.

Mr. Payne: We are doing too much. Mr. Massey said the impression should not be allowed to go to the other parts of the Empire that New Zealand was likely to withdraw from the wter.

Mr. W. H. Field: We are very anxious as to the future.

Mr. Massey: I am just as anxious myself about the future .of this country as anyone can possibly be. The first thing we have to do is to win the war. I am afraid the people of this country will be calTeu upon for greater sacrifices than they have made up till now. I hope it may not be so, but I believe that if we are called upon for greater sacrifices we will face them. , \