“TROOPS MUZZLED"

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21853, 25 October 1945, Page 4

“TROOPS MUZZLED"

SECRECY DEPLORED HEAR RUMOURS ONLY IGNORANCE OF FUTURE fP.R.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 25. The allegation that New Zealanders in the 2nd Division were not only kept in ignorance of their future but were denied the opportunity of expressing opinions was brought to the notice of the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by Mr. R. M. Algie (Opp., Remuera) during the discussion on the arrangements for returning servicemen from overseas. He said he had received a letter from a doctor with the New Zealand troops in the Middle East holding high rank ■and he did not refer to the troops but to the complete lack of information. That officer wrote that he had received a New Zealand newspaper with details of arrangements for men’s leave to visit England several days before the announcement was made to the men themselves. They had heard nothing but a rumour. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, interjected that he thought this must be wrong, because General Freyberg told the men before the Government published information in New Zealand. “Wave of Pessimism” Mr. Algie went on to say that his correspondent wrote: “There is a wave of pessimism over this place. There is not the slightest sign here of any largescale return to New Zealand. We are completely muzzled. We can say nothing and we hear as little. Why are they so secretive?” Mr. Algie went on to ass why the New Zealand soldier was the only one who could not express his opinions. The British Tommy and the Americans could write to their service papers and blow off steam, but the New Zealand service journal would not accept letters from the troops. While the Prime Minister admitted that there was a shortage of ships, he would like to suggest that a little bit more understanding of the men would clear up the nosition. They could be told what was happening through their journal and thev should not be wondering, as his correspondent put it, whether the people of New Zealand had forgotten all about them.