MINISTERS AND WAR WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17325, 27 May 1918, Page 2

MINISTERS AND WAR WORK

MR MACDONALD'S APOLOGIA. (Pes Unitkd Fbess Association.) WELLINGTON, May 25. To-day the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald (Minister of Agriculture) referred to the heavy task of the Government in general l war work as well as in making reasonable provision for dependents of soldiers. Mr Mac Donald said he was not criticising the Second Division Loaguo, of which the members naturally were trying to obtain thf best possible conditions for their wives and children, but it was necessary to explain that members of tho Ministry were not indifferent to tho needs of the dependents. The subjects raised by the league were only a portion of the war matters which had to be considered by the Government in relation to the country's ability to carry its financial burdens. At this stage of tho war it was very difficult to estimate what the State might be able to afford in future. The whole question might have to be considered in relation to circumstances which could not be anticipated to-day. The main function of tho Government in relation to the Second Division reservists at present w.os to provide adequate maintenance for dependents. H* was confident that the country would be able to give in due course any help necessary for the rehabilitation of those men who might be in special need of aid. Later on there was no doubt that a young and fertile country such as New Zealand would be able to reabsorb without difficulty the returned men who would be fit for ordinary work. This truth should be obvious when it was remembered that prior to the war a system of assisted immigration was in operation in order to attract suitable men to the country. Mr Mac Donald remarked that some persons were unfairly trying to bring discredit on the Government in relation to war work. He was satisfied that a full statement of the National Ministry's work would convince the public that much of the current criticism was unjust. Ministers were apparently misjudged and condemned simply because they were not perpetually proclaiming then* work. Their many duties required very close application in many holds of very important activity They wished to do the best they could for all classes of tho community with proper regard for possible contingencies ahead Ihcre seemed to be a notion that soldiers were fighting for the Government. This was not a correct view. The men were fighting for the State which they helped to constitute with themselves and their families as constituents of the State. The demands of the Second Division League had to be considered in correct perspective m relation to tho State.