"Eddie" as a War-winner

Amusing Statement in Wellington, NZ

ACCORDING to a Wellington news ranpr, Australian Minister for Ex ternal Territories, Mr Eddie Ward, when entertained at a “State luncheon” there on February 21. said that “it had been of the utmost importance that dur ing the most critical stage of the war Australia and New Zealand had been under Labour Governments. They in Aus tralia felt that without the advent of a Labour Government in 1941 the history of the war in these parts would have been vastly different.”

There have been hints of this view noint before; but, apparently, Mr. Ward felt that he had better place 1.200 miles between himself and his Australian critics before advancing his claim that the t abour Party saved Australia from the Japs for that, apparently, is what he means.

Mr. Ward himself has no record of service in either World War I or 11. So far as we are aware, not one of the prominent Ministers in the Australian Government displays on his coat lapel the badge of a, returned Serviceman. 'None theless, if the Wellington statement means anything, it means that Mr. Ward and his associates in the coming Aus tralian election campaign are going to claim that they, rather than MacArthur and his American and Australian divi sions, did a magnificent job of work in achieving victory in the Pacific war.

The Rev. and Mrs. J. A. Watson, and their family arrived in Suva from NZ on the February “Matua.” Mr. Watson will take charge of the Suva Presbyterian Church.

Mr. L. Hyndman, 91 Simpson Street, East Melbourne, Victoria, wishes to ex tend his deepest sympathy to the relatives of the many friends who lost their lives on the “Montevideo Maru,” and in other theatres of war.***