FOUR COLONELS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 July 1938, Page 7

FOUR COLONELS

FARMERS’ UNION SEEKS INFORMATION HAWKE’S BAY BRANCH RESOLUTION (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HASTINGS, July 4. “The public is entitled to know why four colonels were retired,” said Mr H. J. Mackeesick at a meeting of the executive of the Hawke's Bay provincial district of the Farmers’ Union, when the following remit from Omakere branch came before the meeting: “That this branch considers the land forces at present in existence totally inadequate for the defence of New Zealand and strongly supports the manifesto of the four colonels.” Mr Mackeesick said the colonels would not have issued the manifesto unless they believed the position to be as they stated. The Dominion executive should be asked to investigate the position and the public should be told by the Government of its reasons for retiring the colonels. Mr R. E. Talbot said defence was a question for experts and the four colonels were experts. It looked as ’if through an expression of opinion the country had lost the services of four colonels. It appeared to be a challenge to the right of free speech. The meeting agreed that the Dominion executive should investigate the recommendations made by the four colonels.