SOLDIERS' OUTLOOK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 58, 9 March 1944, Page 2

SOLDIERS' OUTLOOK

DOMINION GOVERNMENT RETURNED M.P.'S VIEWS (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The outlook of a soldier who has fought in this war was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. Sim (National, Rotorua). He declared that as seniors looked to young men for qualities which would bring victory, the soldiers in turn could look to their seniors to lay a sure foundation on which those who followed would be able to build a noble and lasting peace, under which all would be able to pursue their various callings. The men serving overseas were carrying out their duties with a great sense of pride, and his impression of their views was that they would prefer to see New Zealand governed by a government of all shades of political opinion, similar to that formed by Mr. Churchill, who had realised the necessity of having the 100 per cent backing of the country behind the war efl'orL A truly National Government existed in Britain, and the Labour Government in New Zealand, through its Prime Minister, should have done the same.

The Labour Government, said Mr. Chapman (Government, Wellington North), was successful in establishing a war administration, but the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, was alone responsible for its breakdown. Not one member of the Opposition had given any genuine service in New Zealand's war effort.

An Opposition Member: What about the member for Rotorua 7 Mr. Chapman replied that he was not speaking of members of both siaes of the House who had given such wonderful service at the front some of them at.the secrifice of their lives. What he was criticising was the political activities of the Opposition, and its lack of support of the Government in the war effort. Onlv two of them had given any genuine support. The others excelled in cai ping criticism of every step taken to provide a maximum war effort.