DEFENCE MISTAKES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12070, 27 July 1917, Page 4

DEFENCE MISTAKES.

MR OKEY'S CATALOGUE. TFeom Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 26. In talking candidly about Defence mistakes, Mr Okey in- tho House today said the greatest was the creation of Lord Liverpool's Own Brigade. All our hoys should go Home as New Ze&landers, not Liverpool-,. This brigade would have to be reinforced with, men trained in tho same way, and they had to have separate transports, brigadiergeneral and staff. Mr Payne: A hit of military frill. I):* Thacker: Gold braid and rod taps. . , , . Mr Okey: Yes, and considerable expense. Another mistake, ho continued, was sending too many reinforcements. He agreed with keeping, our promises to th K Old Country, but> t>he trouble was that wo had sent too nu-.ny men. New Zealand mothers would never forget the mistake of tho Old Country in putting our boys to do the impossible at Gallipoli. "I don't think ono Second Division man will have to leave New Zealand during tha next twelve months," declared Mr Okey, who reminded tho House that there were 8000 young men coming of ago annually, besides all that could be got from combing out the First Division. Second Division men were bearing taxation burdens and keeping production going. . Many farmers who had got Second Division scare were selling out, and the ultimate result would b& considerable loss to the country. Now that America was coming into line it was a question whether New Zealand should not preserve its men *-rv cfcistain production.