MR. SEMPLE'S COMPARISONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23486, 25 October 1939, Page 8

MR. SEMPLE'S COMPARISONS

Mi\ Semple's title to criticise New Zealand's effort in the last war is not very clear, nor are the grounds of his criticism. He says that this time "there will be none of the blundering which took place at the beginning of the last war." There may have been blundering in 1914, but there was also capacity for action, as shown by the early despatch overseas, completely equipped, of two expeditionary forces. On this occasion there is plenty of blundering but very little action. The Government waited until war had actually broken out before starting work on the mobilisation camps "de luxe." These may be completed two months after the outbreak Of war, but "ahead of schedule," to quote Mr. Semple. The blame for this blunder and for having to pay overtime falls on the politicians and not the soldiers. The latter had recommended the construction of mobilisation centres in ample time for them to be ready without any special effort or Semple trumpeting. As it is, New Zealand's first echelon is still being housed in makeshift camps, with inadequate cooking arrangements and in old, leaky tents. The rain which exposed this blunder revealed others at the same time. The "de luxe" camp at Hopuhopu was ill-provided with drying rooms and the new recruits were furnished with only one uniform and one set of underclothes. People were amused and at the same time indignant at the "complete organisation" that could not supply men with a spare pair of trousers. A distressing crop of colds was the fruit of blunder-proof and "de luxe" camping at Hopuhopu. And that is only part of the story of muddle and mud that Auckland troops and their parents and friends are telling. Fortress and coastguard troops could add to the narrative. It is distasteful having to raise these matters, but Mr. Semple asks for it by his invidious comparisons. If he and his colleagues could show a record of action and achievement in any way comparable with that of 1914, he I would be better entitled to strut and boast.