SOLDIERS OBJECT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 9 April 1945, Page 5

SOLDIERS OBJECT

CRITICISM OF LEADER GENERAL BLAMEY DEFENDED Melbourne, April 3. Returned soldiers, including MajorGeneral F. P. Derham, interjected warmly at a meeting at Armadale when a speaker made derogatory remarks about General Sir Thomas Blarney. The | meeting was called to form a branch of the Liberal Party. Mr J. S. Cameron, who was the principal speaker, began the trouble when he said many young boys of 18 had dutifully joined the Army and were doing nothing, while the Commander-in-Chief was playing golf at Royal Melbourne, or fishing. A Soldier: You have no right to say that. It is most objectionable. Any i man who works hard can play hard. • A Returned Soldier: Keep your re- j marks to the Liberal Party. Mr Cameron: I don’t blame Blarney, | because he is the Government set-up. j Major-General Derham: He is en-1 titled to recreation after the work he ; does. Mr Cameron: 1 don't say Blarney i doesn't want to work. Returned Soldier: But you suggest' he is not doing it. Mr Cameron: He is not doing it: perhaps you don't know the military setup? Later, after Major-General Derham had been elected president of the branch. he said he had been one of the interjectors. and as a taxpayer and soldier who had served under General Blarney he was delighted to hear that he played golf. A man who worked as hard as he deserved any relaxation he could get. No man who had ever been associated with General Blarney would sit down while he was being criticised.