TRIBUTE TO MR LEE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20995, 23 December 1939, Page 8

TRIBUTE TO MR LEE

POWERFUL FORCE WORK ON DEFENCE COUNCIL RECRUITING SUGGESTION (By Telegraph.—press Association) HASTINGS, Friday “I have nothing to say at the moment as to the reasons adduced by Mr Nash for the Cabinet’s drastic action—there will be opportunities at the proper time and place to discuss these,” said the Hon. W. E. Barnard, Speaker of the House of Representatives, today when interviewed on the subject of Mr J. A. Lee’s loss of position of Parliamentary Under-Secretary. “However, with public attention focussed for the moment on Mr Lee, I feel impelled to pay tribute to a comrade and friend for whom I have a high personal and political regard,” Mr Barnard continued. “He has been a powerful force in helping to create the Labour movement in New Zealand and I have not known him shrink from close adherence to the principles of Labour and democracies.

“Like myself, he is a member of the Council of Defence and I can testify in general terms to the very great value of his services to the country in this capacity. With no Minister of military experience on the council the value of Mr Lee’s counsel and advice as an experienced soldier will be readily appreciated. Charge of Recruiting? “Today we want recruits. They are coming forward too slowly. Mr Lee’s power and abilities are temporarily unused. Why not put him in charge of recruiting? There is no man in New Zealand who could do the work better. “It is time, I think, that a proper grip was taken of the military situation,” Mr Barnard said, “and perhaps with the return of Mr Fraser from overseas steps will be taken to do this. I am convinced, however, that the public needs to be more fully informed as to the aims and objects of the war. Those of us who went through the last war may be critical as to what the bull’s eye is this time. “Mr Lee is out of the UnderSecretaryship certainly,” Mr Barnard concluded, “but it is not the end of him, politically or otherwise. Mr Nash states that the Government had unanimously asked His Excellency to revoke the appointment. By this Mr Nash means the Cabinet, not the Parliamentary Party.” GROUP NOT SATISFIED FINANCE AND BANKING (By Telegraph.—Press Association) TIMARU, Friday Interviewed today, Mr Clyde Carr, M.P. for Timaru, a prominent member of the so-called Left Wing of the Parliamentary Labour Party, said it was general knowledge that relations between Mr Lee and Mr Nash had been somewhat strained. Mr Lee’s position as Under-Secretary to the Minister had been purely nominal since the Hon. H. T. Armstrong had assumed the portfolio of State Advances and Housing. Apparently Mr Lee’s recent article had brought matters to a head. In Mr Carr’s opinion, the article was well written, but precipitate. It was always he considered, to indulge in over-generalisation. Mr Carr said that Mr Lee, himself, and others connected with them agreed that the Labour Government, including Mr Nash, had done a great deal to implement the Labour Party's pledges, but in certain respects they were not satisfied, particularly regarding financial matters and banking legislation and administration generally. These to a large extent represented different attitudes of mind inevitable in any intelligent group.