"WAS MISTAKEN."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 87, 12 April 1940, Page 3

"WAS MISTAKEN."

WAR POLICY CRITIC.

REPLY TO MR. BARNARD.

MR. FRASER HITS OUT,

(By Telegrni)h.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON", Thursday. Asserting that the statement made by tin , Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. W. K. Barnard, that in the war policy "apparently Mr. Chamberlain calls the tune and we ?re to dance to it" was contrary to fact an-1 made in a manner calculated to mislead the people of Xnpier, the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, to-night replied t<i Mr. Barnard's telegram offering the services of the Defence Committee of the House in recruiting.

The text of Mr. Frnser'a telegram is: "I am informed that every member of the Parliamentary committee mentions! by you has been invited to assist actively in recruiting in their respective districts anrl most, if not all. have freely and effectively done so. The invitation is renewed cordially to all members of the committee, and all other members of Parliament who are wholeheartedly supporters of New Zealand's war effort and determination to utilise the country's entire resources in the present etrup;>ile against Nazi Germany side by side fith the British Commonwealth and France.

"In view of the fact that recently you questioned the Cabinet's right to pursue its present war policy, and that you stated on April 7, contrary to fact and in a manner calculated to mislead the people of Napier, that apparently Mr. Chamberlain calls the tune and We are to dance to it. the invitation to yourself automatically presents difficulties unless you can give an assurance that you are prepared to assist the country's war effort to the fullest extent on the present basis and can furnish a frank nnd reasonable assurance that you realise that your conclusions regarding the Government surrendering its sovereign rights in regard to forces sent overseas were mistaken.

'"If you still adhere to your statement concerning the Government's war policy it would obviously lie impossible for yoii to support that policy on a recruiting platform and inevitably confusion would result and recruiting would be injured rather than assisted."