Evening Post. MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1920. SIR JAMES ALLEN

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 92, 19 April 1920, Page 6

Evening Post. MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1920. SIR JAMES ALLEN

The public" gatherings and other functions which .have lately ' been tendered to Sir James Allen on the eve of his departure for England, and the expressions of esteem .and appreciation of his public work that have been uttered, represent in a very- large degree the feelings, we believe, of the whole Dominion. For though Sir James Allen- is and has been a party politician, and a strong party politician of no uncertain views, his greatest work—the work with which his name in future will be' identified— was carried out during a time when party government did not exist; and also we think there is little doubt that all shades of political opinion will accord him full credit for his successful, hand-■ ling of a most difficult task as War Minister during the war period. The memory requires to go back to those early chaotic days when, with no previous experience to guide us, no organisation, no clear ideas upon the great task ahead—when firmness, strength of character; boldness in decision, and determination to carry through plans once approved and accepted were essential— and again to recall the middle period of the war, when' opposing ideas as to how. things should be run were strong and clamorous,. -and even military authorities were at variance with one another on such matters. It is only necessary to compare those times with the ultimate achievements of this little Do-

minion in war, to' give spontaneous. 'credit to Sir Jamer Allen for a -work well directed and well dona. It is not necessary to enter here upon a discussion of our military policy and the lines upon which that. policy. rtas cast, for which the retiring Defence Minister, capably _ advised by his officers, and supported by the Prime Minister and the 'National Government, was responsible. Throughout the war, and especially in the critical period of 1915 when toe stood virtually alone, The Post upheld and lent all possible assistance to the Defence Minister, believing that strength in policy where there was apparently a clear statesmanlike vision ip .the attainment of a definite efid wa-s* wisdom. It is extremely improbable that critics of any worth'in the course, of time will be able to do aught else than support contemporary approval— of which there has been so much heard from world-wide sources—of that policy and its results. Certainly it gave to the Dominion throughout the war its full complement of men, and at the close of hostilities the New Zealand Expeditionary, Force was still at its full fighting strength, when! the majority of other British divisions were unable to fill up the increasing gaps. ' The ex-Minister's tasks have also covered the repatriation period, and if there has been on« feature outstanding in his work in this respect, it has been a personal humane regard for those who have suffered permanent disablement and those" who have lost the ones upon whom they were dependent. In his work Sir James Allen has not spared himself, and the strain of th» past few ysM'B—-together -with a cad bereavement sustained ia fcM early ds-yj

of the war—have made considerable demands upon a physique naturally vigorous. But he leaves for his new sphere of work apparently litlle impaired by the burden he has carried, and this, indeed, is fortunate, for there is undoubtedly a heavy duty, requiring alertness and initiative on the Dominion's behalf, ahead of him in London. With his departure the Government loses its Financial as well as its Defence Minister. Sir James has brought to a close—for 'the time being at least—a political career extending over a period of thirty years, and he leaves for London with the genuine satisfaction of those who have worked honestly and sincerely for the high ideals they hold.