ARE WE DOING ENOUGH?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 250, 31 March 1915, Page 4

ARE WE DOING ENOUGH?

THE DEFENCE.JtfINTSTTH SAY&YES.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last.Night. ' In reply to. criticisms that Slew Zealand is riot doing th.fr Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence, scouts the idea, and says the Government is constantly suggesting something more, and every now ana then, suggestions are accepted.'

"My agreement at Home?,' he- said, " was for a definite expeditionary force. In addition to (hat.agreement, we have sent one extra unit, whichi we do sot want to disclosST We', have sent two extra batteries in additiojirittiitito howitzer battery and an ; eighteen-poumier. We _ have sent two mobile: veterinary sections; one field engineering 'corps, and one army service corps company, and in addition to, thai? we> are filling up another army service; company ana a field engineering company; which haa . \ been forme'd in -Egypt'. ■We -are sending the men to, these men. Wo have sent two guns for training purposes. Our agreement was to send' 8 per cent, of reinforcements .per month, and we are sending- ft per cent. instead of five. We are sending in the course- of a few days fifty nurses—this is entirely our own sug-. gestion—and twelve- nurses to Australia. This is alsq. got o wn suggestion, to supplement the Sustraliar, nurses who have gone to- the front. We shall also send a- stationary hospital, Which ' is also our. own suggestion. .Is' not that ■ an answer to the criticism ?"<.he asked. •■

As to the- stationary hospital, Mr. Allen explains tfiat'" from commuhica- . tions addressed* to me, it- seemed poa- /:- sible that the Army Council would accept an- offer for hospital accommodation from New Zealand, Accordingly, 1 telegraphed to ttie Army ■',' Council on March 5, as follows:—. ' Please, inform me, have you sufficient general hospital accommodation in Egypt, including doctors, nurses,' orderlies equipment?' I again telegraphed them on March 10, as follows.— 'Should be glad to receive an earlyreply to my telegram of March 5, in respect to hospital accommodation in Egypt. New Zealand will be glad to assist in the provision of hospital ae•commodation in Egypt or elsewhere to the best of its ability if you frill let us know what you consider we should' suppl,y_ Would tin- offer of a ■ stationary or clearing hospital moot the case? ' Please state probable cost of equipment and maintenance.'

"To this, on March 28, the Army Council uent the following reply:— 'With reference to yours .of March 10, the persomiel of a stationary hospital wonlrt be accepted gratefully.' On March 29 I cabled as follows:-' Firstly, personnel of stationary hospital will be provided; dnte.and sailing arrangements will be communicated as soon as possible. Please say if hospital is intended for Egypt or elsewhere. Secondy. fifty nursos are sailing lor England by ; the Rolorua, April 8?' ' "This personnel means eight officers, including one lieutenant-colonel, two majors, four captains and subalterns one quartermaster and one warrant officer (ward officer)' ." So far from New Zealand's contribu-' tion remaining the same" as stated by critics, the Minister' says.—".This is quite ina'ceurate. New Zealand's contnbutum does not remain the same. it lias been gradually increased, and more than doubled. From time to time Aew Zealand has made additions to its original troops. J take it to be mv business as Minister of iDefence, not' only to do everything possible for the Imperial Government at this time, tut to see that the defence of our own country is not weakened, so as to place us in .an improper position m case or . attack. lam perfectly well aware that there is little possibility of. an attach just now, but at the same time a breakaway , n the North Sea is possible, if not probaliic. I h ftV c quoted these words because they come to me from „ my responsible adviser, and that advisor also warns mo that we certainly should not. send the remaining mm which are in New Zealand. I tied by this advice, but there is 4 grave responsibility." *