CONDEMNED UNHEARD

Evening Star, Issue 23499, 13 February 1940, Page 14

CONDEMNED UNHEARD

MR BARNARD ANSWERS R.S.A. DR REIFER'S FOREIGN POLICY MEETING [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 12. A resolution carried by the Waipawa Returned Soldiers’ Association expressing regret that the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Hon. W. E. Barnard, M.P. for Napier) should be giving what it described as “ apparent support ” to an address by Dr A. Heifer, plant research expert employed by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, is replied to by Mr Barnard in a telegram he is despatching to-morrow morning to the secretary of the association. Mr Barnard was reported to have presided over a meeting at which Dr Reifer criticised the Bntsh foreign policy, and his reply to the association is as follows: “ I regret your association was so eager to condemn unheard a fellow returned soldier, and I feel that something less than pure patriotism inspired your resolution. May I refer you to my statement published in a Hawke’s Bay newspaper on February 8, which, strangely, you appear to have overlooked. If desired I should be pleased to accept an invitation to address yonr members and explain what was said by the principal speaker at the meeting presided over by me, and also my own views. Meanwhile, in view of the publicity given to your resolution, 1 am handing a copy of this reply to the Press.”