CURTIN DENIES HE ABANDONED N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 36, 12 February 1943, Page 3

CURTIN DENIES HE ABANDONED N.Z.

MILITIA FORCE ZONE

Military Service Bill Passed To Senate

N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright Rec. 12.30 p.m. CANBERRA, this day "The charges made against me of having abandoned New Zealand in this bill are totally untrue," declared the Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, in the Militia Bill debate in the House of Representatives. The bill passed all stages this morning and is now ready for presentation to the Senate. The Opposition holds a majority in the Senate and the fate of the bill is uncertain. Considerable opposition to the bill in its present form is expected when it reaches the Senate, probably next Wednesday. In the House of Representatives an amendment attempting to remove all the statutory limits on the area of militia service was heavily defeated, and other attempts to amend the bill collapsed. "Representatives of the New Zealand Government came to Australia and met the Government and the War Council," explained Mr. Curtin. "An Anzac theatre' was drawn up, including New Zealand, New Caledonia and Fiji, but its northern limits were much further south than in the area defined by the present Militia Bill.

"It was' the desire of the Australian and New Zealand Governments to have one theatre, but the north and north-west limits of the zone defined in the Militia Bill exceeded those which the Governments of the Commonwealth and New Zealand drew lip for submission. "The United States Government desired a different kind of theatre, and, as a consequence, without the wishes of New Zealand or Australia being accepted, separation was effected. We do not pretend," added Mr. Curtin, "to accept responsibility beyond the real measure of our capacity to discharge it. and in any event the boundaries of the militia service have been drawn by people with greater responsibility for global strategy than myself. We have done our best ,for Australia and for the total cause."