The Auckland Star WITH WHICH AND INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1942. FIRST THINGS FIRST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 236, 6 October 1942, Page 2

The Auckland Star WITH WHICH AND INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1942. FIRST THINGS FIRST

lu " «' iiltll ki i 11 ■»n -1 .abour members of Hie War Cabinet, Mr. C.oate-, .ii.il .Mr. I l.miiltnn have had a much longer intimate association U|| l' 'hi' din,: i,,n ~i ihr I >out i n ion's war ofTort. than have Mr. Holland 1 ■ il:'"• 'I'll. II decision to enter it had the approval of the > ,l ''' I' "' v 11 tune, ami u;h a source of satisfaction to a large "'""I" i I'i N ' <\ /.i-a la i ider-. who fell, not only that a step had been '" tt,l "l' pohtieal unit \ liu I also that the War Cabinet would be 11 11 L "' I' i" 1 1 l iy I heir e\pei leiiceil ability. The confidence felt in them "i> | 'iace. I I lu- I'riine Minister has more than once paid ■' " 1 ■ •' • 11 •' 1 111 I peri unciory manner, to the value of their counsel and wl;i n u ' ll Adinini .'•ation was formed he allotted to Mr. Coates dti'ie I ! poll -iliihties second lo none except, his own. For these I''' 1 ' 1 "; ii: f.\ li.i- awaited with keen interest a statement defining I ''''' Ml Coate-- 11 id Mr. Hamilton following the recent decision • N ' |, """| | 1 '• 111 > ! " vv|l lidraw its six representatives from the War ' r;i l •<•>". That statement has been made, and there is no ambiguity 11 * "■des and Mr. Hamilton have refused to be bound by the I'll"... decision As I hey could not remain in the War Cabinet as I' 1 ' Oi.Hives of the National party they have resigned, but they have ." . r» |« <! in ihi. F lime Ministers request that they accept reappointment. " Ul " acknowledged by all people except such, in both parties »'..W eaiuiot look at the war effort, and the political direction "t d. without using party spectacles, that Mr. Coates and Mr. Hamilton have taken the path of national duty. They are not less aware or less < 'Hleum.itory than others ot the deplorable circumstances in which the » toveminent telt itself obliged lo take control of the Waikato mines and i" sii h i kl i lu- sentences on some of the striking miners. Thev differ ironi their party in not thinking, as the party, judged bv its "actions, api i.i ieni ly does think, that no circumstances co.ild be worse. They think connitiuns would have been much worse if there had been "a .inci.s ill in the North Island in dairy companies, freezing companies and railway transport, and a heavy reduction in gas lighting, all of which would have affected the security or our people and our ability o fjfirht. lr) Wl " honestly deny that a continuance of the miners' strike would have resulted in these conditions, and that for the national m,rl . r 'I v -V i NV 9 U ' ( * have been very much worse than the conditions crrafotl by (he (act and the nature of the (Government's intervention 7 Mr. ( o.u.es and Mr. Hamilton have put lirst things first, and have seen iu- national interest as paramount. The ability and the courage to do mis ate prime qualifications for membership of the War Cabinet.

Mr. Holland has demanded that a general election be held, and has suggested that it could he held in three months' time. Obviously it must if held as soon as it can be held. The Government's ordinary mandate has outrun Its period. Moreover, there is a widespread feeling not ion fined to the National party, that "now blood" is badly needed in the House of Representatives and a copious infusion of it would directlv benefit the war effort. When the election can safe I v be held is as has been remarked before, a matter dependent upon the course of the war in the Pacific'. Although the Government's ordinary mandate is exhausted it has. as any other Government in wartime has, an extraordinary mandate—to guard as best it may, by any and every means it can employ and misunderstanding and criticism notwithstanding, the physical security of the country. If (here should be apprehension lest the election might be postponed unduly, beyond the necessities of war, it can be said that there are two safeguards. The first is the presence of Mr. Coates and Mr. Hamilton in the War Cabinet, where the war information is available tn all members alike: the second is the fact that the desire for an early •lection is not one of which the National party enjoys a monopoly.