COALITION

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 13006, 4 April 1940, Page 5

COALITION

“UTTERLY REMOTE” MR. FRASER’S STATEMENT THE WAR A FACTOR The question of a Coalition was so utterly remote that he was astounded that anyone should entertain the idea, the Hon Peter Fraser, now Prime Minister, is reported to have told the Easter Conference of the Labour Party. This is revealed in the “Standard,” official organ of the Labour Party. A delegate, it is reported, asked Mr Fraser if h© could give' a definite assurance to the conference that, in the event of the war situation preventing a general election being held at the usual time, the Labour Government would in no circumstances be a party to the' formation of a Coalition Government. A Major Question Mr Fraser said he would ask the delegates to study the constitution of the party, when they would see how it had been framed at every stage years ago so as to ensure that the party would be consulted on all major issues not previously settled. The question of the formation of a Coalition Government, continued Mr Fraser, was most certainly a major one on which the Labour Party must, and would, be consulted before any decision was arrived at in the very unlikely event of the matter being raised seriously. Overwhelming Majority However, there was no likelihood of the proposal being made. No member of the Government had mentioned or even contemplated such a course. The Government, Mr Fraser pointed out, had an overwhelming majority, and there was no indication from the general public of any desire for a Coalition. It was so utterly remote that was astounded that anyone should entertain the Idea. Elected to Govern

It would be the duty of the Government to report to next year’s conference regarding the matter and if in the intervening period any unforseen circumstances arose the Government would consult the national executive and if the emergency was big enough a special conference ■would be called., “We were elected to govern the country as a Labour Government,” Mr Fraser continued. “I see no justification for anything to the contrary, but if special circumstances did arise the national executive would call a special conference to deal with the situation. Any other way is impossible.”