QUALITIES OF GENERAL

Southland Times, Issue 24011, 29 December 1939, Page 4

QUALITIES OF GENERAL

No Better Choice For Position

TRIBUTE PAID TO COMMANDER (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 28. In a speech during the civic reception to Major-General B. C. Freyberg, V.C., D. 5.0., C. 8., C.M.G., the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) said that Major-General Freyberg had been entrusted with the task of leading the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. One of the first offers received by the Government after the outbreak of the war .was from Great Britain—from Major-General Freyberg. That offer was accepted and the attendance in the Town Hall showed that the people endorsed the appointment made by the New Zealand Government. After referring to Major-General Freyberg’s distinguished record as a soldier, Mr Jones said the New Zealand soldiers under his leadership would-be well looked after.

Major-General Freyberg, said Mr Jones, was out to eliminate waste. Much money was being spent on the war but large sums could be used without obtaining the best results. Major-General Freyberg was the enemy of wasteful expenditure. “We hope,” added Mr Jones, “that Major-General Freyberg will come back again soon and when he comes will bring our boys back to New Zealand and that by that time we will have achieved a just and honourable peace.” The Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) contended there could have been no better choice for the appointment of the leader of the New Zealand troops than Major-General Freyberg. It was essential that the leader must have knowledg*e of the latest technique and in Major-General Freyberg, New Zealand had that knowledge as well as all the other qualities.

NEW ZEALAND FORTUNATE New Zealand had been fortunate because had not Major-General Freyberg been appointed to command the New Zealand forces he would have been appointed to another division. He had that on the highest authority from the War Office. No man carried greater confidence of those in command of the British Forces than Major-General Freyberg. A very eminent soldier who had been Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Charles Fergusson, had said to Mr Fraser on the telephone: “There is a matter I want you to understand thoroughly. That is my appreciation of your selection of a commander for the New Zealand Division. If I had been asked to choose anybody for you I would have selected Major-General Freyberg.” Mr Fraser referred to the magnificent stand which the people of Great Britain were making and said that it was not easy for New Zealanders to grasp the stress and strain on the peoples of other countries. New Zealand was not feeling the war and not even feeling the economic sacrifices to the same extent as the people of Great Britain. It was the duty of New Zealanders to unite in the great material effort to free the world. A. welcome was also extended to Major-General Freyberg by the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., on b&half of returned soldiers.