WAR CABINET POST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 310, 31 December 1940, Page 8

WAR CABINET POST.

OPPOSITION STAND. VIEWS OF MR. HOLLAND. (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The attitude of tlie Opposition was defined by the Leader, Mr. S. <;. Holland, when replying to the Prime Minister's statement that it was obvious that if the War Cabinet was to continue as a national institution for the purpose of directing the nation's war effort, both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition had to be members of the War Cabinet. After referring to the "War Cabinet, war loans and the many Orders-in-Council that had been made under the war regulations without any reference to the War Cabinet," Mr. Holland said that in his opinion the Government was no more entitled to select the Opposition representatives of the War Cabinet than the Opposition was entitled to choose the members of the Cabinet. "Since the session concluded, two Ministerial resignations have been tendered, but the Government appears to be so determined to hold its portfolios that this caucus has voted on the successors to the Ministers who have resigned. The proper course to adopt is that both parties should sink their differences, form a Xational Government, and get on with winning the war. Tho Opposition k prepared to do its part if the Government will do the same, and the Opposition is not goinp to remn.in eilent while the Government goes full speed ahead with its socialisation programme. "If what tlie Prime Minister has stated means the breaking up of the War Cabinet I can only express my own and the Opposition"* regret," Mr* Holland 'said. 'The Prime Minister has been good enough to say publiclv on many occasions that Mr. Coates and Mr. Hamilton rendered conspicuous service to the Empire's war effort and *hat he could not wish to be associated with two more suitable or better qualified men. "When the War Cabinet was first constituted there was no qualification whatever that the Leader of the Oppoe.t.on should be one of the Opposition's representatives and it seems strange that the Prune Minister should wish to impose such a condition. I would point out that the Parliamentary Opposition confirmed Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Coates as member* of the War Cabinet, -ave them an entirely free hand and assured them of the wholehearted backin- of the caucus in every way possible in the. effort 0 " ° f Zealand's wa?