MR. ALLEN'S DETRACTORS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 111, 11 May 1916, Page 6

MR. ALLEN'S DETRACTORS

Certain political and journalistic irresponsibles seem to imagine that patriotic duty requires them to do all in their power of tongue and pen to harass the Minister of Defence. That perpetual carping is certainly a perverted sense of public duty, and the mancei- of it has the bitterness of malice. JV1". Allen has obviously relentless enemies in and out of political life. They had hoped, apparently, that he would be a muddler in matters of defence, and tliey evidently have a keen disappointment in his efficient administration. The detractors must admit that the best test of any regime is in results. The main purpose of the Defence Department is 'to despatch well-trained soldiers to the war zone of the Old AVorld. This has been done, and is being done, on a plan which should command the admiration of any unbiased observer. New Zealand's military part in the war has been well done, worthily done. True, Mr. Allen has been fortunate in having the cooperation of competent hard-working staffs, at headquarters and at the camps, but surely the head of the Department is entitled to some credit for which many heads have worked—that achievement which has given New Zealand an honourable place among the Dominions Overseas. Men who have no personal antipathy nor antagonism to the Minister would admit, on the evidence, that Mr. Allen was a friend of the general public, but a stranger might easily deduce from the clamour of irresponsibles—mas'terless men of politics, erratic and eccentric "free-lancers"-—that the Minister was regarded as a public enemy. The contention that the foolish, unjust criticism is "in the public interest" can be fairly described as a mere pretence, a cover for other motives. New Zealand needs a better kind of "nationalism" from certain members of Parliament who purport to be representatives of the people. Their conduct is not in accordance with the letter or spirit of the prayer which is read by Mr. Speaker at the beginning of each day';? sitting of the House of Representatives.