MR ALLEN CRITICISED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 9

MR ALLEN CRITICISED.

(Feom Our Own Cok2espondent.) WELLINGTON, May 11. The Minister of Defence was forced today to listen to a request by Mr Wilford that ho should resign his portfolio, and take some other in the Cabinet. Mr Wilford led up to his proposal by stating that since tho war began Russia had changed her Ministry three times, Australia. live times, Greece three times, and Franco three times, while Britain had not hesitated to ask some of her Ministers to go, even after the formation of a National Ministry. Why should New Zealand be afraid of a change? He had no hesitation in saying- that the Minister of Defence at tho present time was the greatest barrier to recruiting in' New Zealand. —("Hear, hoar," from (several quarters), "I believe," declared Mr Wilford, "that that Minister is tho hardest worker in this country. No Minister works more patiently or more readily, but he has no eoul and no heart. Ho is a, man with a big opportunity, who has failed. The fate of the Empire and the dominion does not depend upon keeping any one member in office. Let the Minister of Defence drop his portfolio and take any other. Let them appoint any other member from the Prime Minister's side in order to keep tho equation right. The Minister of Defence is out of touch with public opinion. He is a hard-hearted man." Mr Massey asked tho Speaker if (his personal attack was in order on the motion for tho introduction of a Rent Bill (Mr Payne's Rent Bill was before tho Hou«o). The Speaker intimated that the hon gentleman was getting away from the subject, and Mr Wilford closed the incident by remarking: "I bow to your ruling-."