A DIAGNOSIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12068, 25 July 1917, Page 4

A DIAGNOSIS.

DR THACKER AS CRITIC.

REINFORCEMENT POLICY

REVIEWED

[Fkom Our Correspondent. 1

WELLINGTON; July 24

Dr Thackcr, in a speech to-night, advocated a drastic change in the Government policy of reinforcement of tho Expeditionary Force. Any criticism ho had to offer would, he said, be constructive. He recognised that tho first and only thing was to push on with the task of winning the war. He was afraid the Governor's Speech was a blank cartridge. Possibly tho Governor's new title was in recognition of the country's service, but it would result in large coils of gold braid heincr distributed throughout tho public service, though gold braid did not mean brains. In politics he found it more difficult to diagnose than: in medicine. The treatment was usually expectant, waiting for something to turn up. (Laughter.) Numbers of deputations had continually to interview Ministers because they were not in touch with public opinion. He strongly urged the claims of old age pensioners to incieased payments. He advocated a furlough for the Main Body of the Expeditionary Force.. Some of the officers had come home, therefore the it en had an equal claim to a holiday. In an uncensored letter ho received from the front one soldier stated that the dearest thing he wished for was home. He believed the Minister of Defence was afraid to let the Main Body men come back to see what Imnibugs wore in high military positions. Tho presence of our veteran fighters would be an inspiration to the country. WASTAGE AND REINFORCEMENTS.

He claimed that the Minister of Defence had failed to give a satisfactory account of the number of troops sent away from Now Zealand. His own figures showed that our actual wastage from death, disease and wounds totalled 6000 yearly, yet wo Bent away 29,000 men as reinforcements annually, or enough to provide for four years' wastages With 40,000 fit men at the- front it wag useless for tbe Minister 1o talk of the urgent need for reinforcements. If Second Division men wore taken of the proposed rate New Zealand would have its industries and production stopped in eighteen months. Th ra Government' could have arranged to replace enlisted railwaymen hy medical unfits, and avoided the dislocation of suburban services. The shins being used for transporting New Zealand reinforcements could do eighr. trips to Europe with American tioops instead of only, one and a half per annum frpm New Zealand., Ministers lir-d stated that there would be two months' delay in sending the next Reinforcement. Possibly they were funking the wages which would have to he paid to the Second Division, or they were conscientiously coming to a souse of reason. Local camps would have to be seriously considered when the Division was called up. These camps would enable men to have an extra month with their families. Dr Thacker. likening the Government to one of tho new war tanks, said that it got its nose into the first shell crater, tho co'<t of living, and there it stuck. This forced its two chauffeurs to get out and go to England to see what could be done. (Laughter.) The Board of Trade was trying to relieve it, but :thp crater was getting bigger. •Ho believed that when the Board of Trcde first recommended the Anst'-alinn wheat purchase tho pric-? was 3s lOd :> bushel.