RETURNED TROOPERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16023, 15 September 1915, Page 9

RETURNED TROOPERS.

SOME IDLE RUMOUR.

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE.

VIGOROUS REPUDIATION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Tuesday.

|An unpleasant rumour regarding certain of the New Zealand soldiers who returned by the Tahiti was given publicity in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby (Wairarapa) said he understood that on the Tahiti there was a large number of menthe statement was made that it ran into* hundreds — had never got past Egypt. It disturbed him to think that men who had fought and bled in battle should get only the same encouragement from the people as men who had never smelt powder except at a review. Was it fair? Was it decent? He did not know what was the reason why some of the men had not got to the front but all sorts of things were being said. •

A Member : What things? Mr. Hornsby: All sorts of dreadful things. Some of them are,accused in plain language of cowardice. A Member: Who accused them? The Prime Minister : You should not say such a thing. Air. Hornsby : I am onlv stating what is being said and surely if it is not true it should be denied by the .Minister for Defence. I am giving him the opportunity. It is a dreadful thing that these young men should have to remain under such an imputation and the House should remove it. If men have been in Egypt all the time it is not decent, to give them the same reception as those whose bodies have been broken at the front.

Defence Minister's Statement. The Minister for Defence, the Hon. J. Allen, said he was extremely sorry that Mr. Hornsby should have raised the question in the House. He had not conceived it to be his duty to draw any distinction between those, wgio had been 'at the front and those who came back sick. He was not going to discriminate between them. Moreover, he was not going to allow any man to hint that any one of the men who returned on the Tahiti was a coward. Mr. Hornsby: I did not hint it. Mr. Allen : You have stated in the House that it is a byword in the street that they axe cowards. That will be published in the newspapers all over the Dominion in the morning. Mr. Nosworthy (Ashburton) : And Mr. Hornsby did it. Mr. Hornsby indignantly demanded that Mr. Nosworthy should withdraw Ids remarks, and Mr. Speaker intervened and asked that members should refrain from interjecting.

Numerical Return Promised. Continuing, Mr. Allen said that he repudiated in the strongest terms the suggestion, wherever it came from, that any man who came back in the Tahiti, or any man who enlisted in New Zealand,, could be called a coward. He himself had never heard a whisper of the kind until it was raised in the House. He knew there was a certain number of men who were not able to go to the front because they were sick and in hospital. He did not know how many, but he was to'.d the number was considerable. He would have a return in a day or so, and then he could say how many had come back sick and how many had "been to the front. Until then, let talk regarding the men be suspended. Some of the men were suffering from pneumonia and some from tuberculosisdisease contracted in the desert. Was it fair to suggest that these men were cowards?

Mr. Hornsby: I didn't suggest it. Mr. Allen: The hon. gentleman mentioned the rumour publicly in the House, anyway. The suggestion was revolting to every New Zealander. These men were cursing their bad luck at not having got to the front, and if they had had an opportunity they would have gone. No man could find a single New Zealander who had turned his back on the enemy. He hoped these idle rumours would be killed and would not be brought into public gaze. Mr. Payne (Grey Lynn) : They should be cleared up. Mr. Allen: There is nothing to clear up. Mr. Hornsby: It is being discussed all over Wellington.

"Eager for the Front." Mr. Allen, continuing, said that a number of those who returned were eager to go back and get to the front, and he hoped to give them the opportunity. - As for the hospitality extended to "the returned soldiers, he did not think the public wanted to discriminate. How could the authorities go on board the boat and, picking out all the men who had been to the front, say to the others who had been taken ill in Egypt, " You are not worthy of a public reception." Mr. Hornsby made a personal explanation when the Minister had finished his statement. He declared that the had more than hinted that he (Mr. Hornsby) had said that the men were guilty of cowardice, and he denied this with all the vigour of which he was capable.

Members' Heated Exchanges. At this stage a member interjected something, and Mr. Hornsby turned round and dramatically shook his fist at the member concerned, " You dare to say that to me outside of this House," he half shouted. "You just dare. I will show you ail about it!" Hon. Members : What did he say ? Mr. Hornsby : Never mind, just Jet him dare to say it to me outside. I will see him after the adjournment. He reiterated his statement that the rumours were current in the Wellington streets, and declared that members of the Defence Office were making the statement themselves that men had been guilty of cowardice, and he asked the Minister to clear it up —that was all.

Mr. Payne criticised the nature of the Minister's reply to Mr. Hornsby. Tf these rumours were true, he said they should be cleared up. A member intejected at this stage, and Mr. Payne told him " to keep his face shut and let him cet on with his speech." A number of other members also spoke, and the debate was terminated by the House going on to consider the Estimates.