GENERAL GODLEY

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 42, 18 August 1917, Page 7

GENERAL GODLEY

CRITICISED AND DEPENDED IN PARLIAMENT

Speaking in Parliament last night-on the snbject of the Army, Mr. C. J. Pan- said he thought it was most unfortunate that General Godley still commanded our armies in France. Ninety per cent, of tha men he had met at Home and returned, said the eame thing. There was a feeling of unconcealed hostility and dislike, and the Govevrnment ought not to ignore it. The feeling was not ephemeral, but had persisted for three years. The excellent efficiency and moral of our men at the front was largely due to General Russell in France and General Richardson in England. General Godley had giverTno chance to New Zealand officers to learn Staff work. At present there was only one New Zealand officer on the Staff, and that was a recent appointment. General Godley owed his position to the fact that he commanded the New Zealanders, and he should give New Zealanders a full share in the work of his command. He might bo a good soldier, as a tactician, but if he could not get on with men he was not a good commander. He _had seen evidence of this universal feeling against General Godley, there was a, feeling of undisguised hostility against him, and he felt sure that the New Zealanders would fight better under General Birdwood, and ..that General Godley should be removed to some other command. IS THERE INFLUENCE? Mr. W. T. Jennings said there was a distmct feeling in the minds of some, people that men could get commissions in the army by influence. If that was true, it was a thing to be strongly deprecated. He believed that the Minister of Defence was the last person to be subject to influence, but the rumour that was going about in that respect was serious. Like Mr. Parr, he contended that-'the New Zealanders had not had a true run under General Godley, although wherever they had gone they had done credit to the Dominion. AN APPRECIATION. _ Mr. M'Callum started out by referring to General Godley. . He met him in Egypt, and was impressed by liim as a man who had all the qualifications for the making of a great soldier. He was surprised that a member of the House should make an attack on a high Tmperial officer. He was in no way under 'the control of the New Zealand Government. It- was true that he was unpopular with some, but he never missed an opportunity of doing the best he could. for his' officers and men. Mr. M'Callum came across cases in Egypt •wher *he General had been hard where it was a question of attending to the health of the troops under his charge. He was not there for, popularity, But to do his part in winning the war, and he could only do that by looking after the health of the men. It was exceedingly regrettable that such an attack should have been made. To attempt to gain popularity with Ihe soldiers by such an attack was to be deplored.

Mr. Parr contended that that remark imputed an improper motive.

Mr.' M'Callum withdrew the remark, He had not intended to convey the impressiora imputed.