INDEPENDENT GROUP

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23913, 3 April 1943, Page 4

INDEPENDENT GROUP

COMMENT BY MR COATES AND MR HAMILTON

“MR KYLE’S VIEW PURELY PERSONAL ” (P.A.) WELLINGTON. April 2. A reiteration of the belief they have expressed previously that this is not a time for the pursuance of party politics was given in a joint statement made by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates and the Hon. A. Hamilton, when asked for comment on the statement attributed to Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P.. at Christchurch. It says that Mr Kyle expresses a “purely personal view” and that he is free to say whatever he cares to. “In the meantime we are not so concerned in any form of party politics,” the statement added. “In fact, when we consider the present war position, with our men and country actively engaged in a life and death struggle, the idea of a General Election on the home front is repugnant. “The fact that sufficient unity, which means the spreading of responsibility, cannot be agreed , to, so that a General Election, with all its turmoil and division, could be avoided, is to be deplored. With the grave struggle still in front of us and our Allies, common sense seems to dictate that the pursuance of party politics should cease and that public leaders should combine in directing New Zealand’s whole effort and capacity to one goal, defeating the enemy. This will require the combined effort of all the citizens in the country before it is over.”

MR KYLE’S REPORT

MR W. J. POLSON’S CRITICISM Criticism of Mr H. S. S. Kyle’s statement on the formation of a “Win the War” group was made by Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., in a public address last evening at Ohoka, “I was sorry when I read in this morning’s paper that my old colleague, with whom I had the friendliest relations, had suddenly gone astray.” said Mr Poison, referring to the member for Riccarton. “My Kyle, unfortunately, has made a pronouncement in ‘The Press’ in which he sought to suggest that those with whom he was associated in the breakaway were the men who seek to keep New Zealand on an even keel by preventing an election. It would almost lead the reader to suspect that the National Party was responsible for the election taking place. Actually, the House acted on a motion by the Prime Minister, and the decision to hold the election was made almost unanimously, only Sir Apirana Ngata hfalding the opinion that the move was wrong. Messrs Coates, Hamilton, Massey, and Kyle all agreed, and did not suggest a vote against it.” Mr Kyle overlooked the fact that he and his friends, by splitting the Opposition parly, were weakening the war effort more than anything else, and weakening the party which was endeavouring to keep the country on an even keel, said Mr Poison. Mr Kyle had b*een hasty. He had spoken out of turn, and, in consequence, he was likely to be discarded by the electors.