N.Z. DIVISION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 121, 24 May 1945, Page 8

N.Z. DIVISION

OPPOSITION' ACTION

LETTER TO MR. NASH

"The decision to call up another five thousand men for military service, announced in this morning's newspapers, actuates me to ask you to call Parliament together at the earliest possible date to discuss the return of our troops from the European theatres of war," begins a letter of today's date addressed by the Acting Leader of the Opposition (Mr. W. J. Poison) to the Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Nash).

"In the opinion of the National Party," Mr. Poison's letter continues, "the time has come to decide what New Zealand's course of action should be in the future —whether, in view of the food position and the urgent need for more production, we would not be serving the best interests of the Empire and our Allies by concentrating on such service.

"In the absence of a definite Government statement of policy, such an announcement as the calling up of a further 5000 of our man-power is bound to create confusion and unrest in the minds of the people. The National Party holds the emphatic opinion that unless Great Britain specifically requests the transfer of our troops to the Near East or some other theatre of war, they should come home, but in any event we think the matter is of such importance that Parliament should make a decision at once.

"I would suggest that the war services and sacrifices New Zealand has already made are recognised by Great Britain and the Allies, and a determined national drive for food at this critical period when the British ration is being further cut would be a practical means of preserving our status in regard to any peace settlement, as well as doing a valuable war job. "P.S. I am sending a copy of this letter to the Press."