MINISTER’S PROTEST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21753, 30 June 1945, Page 4

MINISTER’S PROTEST

REPLY TO criticism MR. M ( 'LAGAN’S POSITION (P.A.) WELLINGTON. June 30. A deliberate and absolutely unjustifiable attack had been made upon him. said the Minister of National Service and Industrial Man-Power and Leader of the Legislative Council, the Hon. A. McLagan, when speaking on ■ the Imprest Supply Bill in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon.

Mr. McLagan was referring to the frequent criticism of the fact that he holds Ministerial office without having been elected to the House of Representatives. Mr. McLagan said he had tolerated the attacks with contemptuous indifference, but he thought the time had arrived for him to give a sufficient reply. When the war admin-

istration was toeing contemplated in 1942 he had been invited to accept a seat. He had suggested that the administration proposed was too large and had offered to withdraw if the Opposition would withdraw one of their members. But his offer was not accepted. Mr. McLagan said the question of his standing for a seat in the House was discussed, and he was told that, if he contested the first vacancy, lie would not be opposed. He had not accepted that, as he did not wish to offer his services apart from the wartime period. Later the Opposition members had withdrawn from the administration and it appeared that they had since attacked him because the fact that he had not also deserted his post was a standing reproach to them. The Imprest Supply Bill was put through all stages and passed.