AN ECHO OF THE WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 163, 13 July 1925, Page 12

AN ECHO OF THE WAR.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.

In the Legislative Council, on the conclusion of the Address-Ln-Reply debate, the Attorney-General (Sir Francis Bell) aeked permission to make a Ministerial statement in- connection with a matter the Hon. M. Cohen had twice referred to, namely, a difference between Mr. Massey and-Lord Liverpool as to the dispatch of New Zealand's first contingent to Europe. Sir Francis Bell said he desired, as a Minister of the Crown in Mr. Massey's Administration, to speak on Lord Liverpool's behalf as well as on behalf of the Government. It was astonishing how the terrible days of 1914 were scarcely in their memories now. War was declared on August 4, 1914, and one expedition from New Zealand had taken Samoa and a second was ready to sail in transports to Europe. They were to start for Australia and there join the firet Australian contingent. Two vessels actually left Auckland on September 14 with a small convoy of New Zealand naval forces to cross the Tasman Sea for Australia. But they were recalled because the Government had reason to beKeve that there was danger from two German warships.

The Admiralty did not believe the dreaded danger existed, and instructed Lord Liverpool to bring every argument to bear to convince the Massey Government of the necessity of allowing the troops to proceed, because of the urgency of the arrival of the forces at the canal. The Prime Minister and his Government held the opinion that a convoy was necessary for the safety of our troops, and Mr. Massey took up the position that if Lord Liverpool insisted on the Admiralty's instructions being followed then he would have to find another Prime Minister. It was not Lord LiverpooJ really the dispute was with, but with the British Admiralty. These facts could not be fully brought out except by one who had seen the telegraphed instructions, and was under the dreadful responsibility attached to a Minister of the Crown at the time. At the time the great nation of Japan had sent their warships to the aid of His Majesty's forces in New Zealand, and they could not and ought not forget the great debt owing for the protection given by those battleships.