“FULLY JUSTIFIED”

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 48, 19 November 1932, Page 10

“FULLY JUSTIFIED”

Mr. A. Macintosh’s Criticisms TREATMENT CONDEMNED Dominion Special Service. Marton, Nov. 18. Strong criticism of the treatment meted out to Mr. Alexander Macintosh, a member of the National Expenditure Commission, by the House of Representatives because of his addendum to the report of the commission, was voiced by Mr. G. L. Marshall at a meeting of the Marton branch of the Farmers’ Union to-day. “Mr. Macintosh has been held up to ridicule,” said Mr. Marshall. “Insinuations have been made regarding his mental faculties. The finding of the Privilege Committee of the House that no action would be taken against him on account of his advanced age was the last word in ostracism, and as a result Mr. Macintosh has stated that never again would his services be available for public offices.

“In such a way do we lose the guidance of those we can ill afford to lose at times like the present.

“That is the reward of a conscientious .outspoken man, a ‘ man with nothing to gain or lose, according to his expressed opinions. It is an insult to every right-thinking man.”

Mr. Marshall said that he was well acquainted with Mr, Macintosh, who was far from being old, let alone senile as the Privilege Committee had suggested. Rather he was one of the keenest thinkers the speaker had ever known.

The meeting was heartily in accord with Mr. Marshalls’ views, and the following resolution was carried unanimousely ,to be forwarded to the chairman of the Privilege Committee:— That this meeting considers that Mr. Macintosh was fully justified in expressing his opinions in the addendum by him to the report of the National Expenditure Commission, and that his opinions were correct; further that it is not in the best interests of the Dominion that a man of M. Macintosh’s well-known ability and integrity should be held up to ridicule and insult.