RETIRED COLONELS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 242, 9 July 1938, Page 15

RETIRED COLONELS

References In Parliament

Approval of the disciplinary action taken against four senior officers of the Territorial force by posting them to the retired list was expressed by Mr. C. A, Barrell (Government, Hamilton), during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. “I served for a period in the permanent defence forces of this country,” said Mr. Barrell, “and I knew the rules and regulations governing the conduct of a soldier just as well as I know the rules of the House. The four colonels knew the Army Regulations. Although they swore allegiance to the King’s Regulations, they deliberately broke the oath they took when they received their commissions. I have np sympathy with them at all.” "The Minister of Defence was right in putting the four colonels down. But in my opinion he made one mistake," said Mr. A, Campbell (Government, Chalmers). “He should have stripped them of their peacock feathers and put them luto civilian clothes. We have heard a lot about Russia. I venture the opinion that if the colonels bad been in Russia they would have been given 12 hours to prepare for that long journey from which none return.” Mr. Campbell said that, after listening to the member for Parnell, Mr. W. P. Endean, the impression - he got was that the Opposition was trying to stampede the Minister of Defence and his colleagues into a panic. Not only had public servants had their freedom of political expression restored to them by the present Government, but, their efficiency had been materially Increased, said Mr. J. B. F. Cotterill (Government, Wanganui). “What about the four colonels?" nskc.) Colonel J. Hargest (Opposition, Awarua). “As a military man, Colonel Barges! should know the implications of (lie manifesto of the four colonels' statement," said Mr. Ootterill. '“Some safeguard has to be applied by the authorities."

It was stated in Wellington yesterday that, there was no question of any action being taken by Wellington Territorials in support of the four colonels who were posted to the retired list recently. The matter had not been discussed by officers and I here was no suggestion of anyone resigning as a proles! against the disciplinary action, nor was there any feeling of dissatisfaction among the rank and file.