GOVERNMENT IN WAR TIME

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22812, 11 September 1939, Page 8

GOVERNMENT IN WAR TIME

Coalition Cabinet Held Unlikely PARLIAMENT TO RESUME TO-MORROW * [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 10. Three full days of caucus meetings of the Government Party, which began on Friday, have brought to a climax a week of intense activity since the outbreak of war last Sunday, j Frequent sittings of the Cabinet have been held during the week that Parliament has. been adjourned, and at these Ministers haye taken stock of the situation.

It is not known yet what new legislation will be required because of the war, but some enactments are bound to be necessary. No information is, available as to how much of the original legislative programme is to* he proceeded with, but it is certain to be pruned very substantially, as there is an Evident desire among Ministers to have the session concluded as soon as possible.

In some quarters there even is a belief that it will finish in the coming week, although this would 'require very great acceleration of the normal pace at which Parliament works. r The House will resume on Tuesday, after a week’s adjournment, and by that time it is likely that the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) will be in ajposition to indicate plans for the remainder of the session.

The question ,of financing New Zealand’s effort in the war will probably require early consideration, now that the Minister for Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, has resumed .his portfolios. This question will, no doubt, be handled by him. Speculation has been - fairly general on the possibility of the appointment of a tvar Cabinet with Opposition representation, but in political circles there is little to support this belief. The National Government formed in 1914 by a coalition of the Reform and Liberal Parties has been cited as a precedent, but the position today is entirely different, as the Government has an overwhelming majority in the House, whereas 25 years ago representation of the two main parties was considerably more evenly balanced. It is known, however, that for the last 10 days the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, and certain other members of his party have been taken into full confidence by the Government over international developments and New Zealand’s defence preparations.