WAR COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 226, 19 June 1940, Page 8

WAR COUNCIL

Direction Of Dominion War Effort MEMBERS APPOINTED Announcement By Prime Minister The personnel of the War Council, which is to supervise and direct New Zealand’s war effort, was announced yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser. The Opposition has declined to nominate three members to the council, but Mr. Fraser said the invitation to do so remained open. This, if availed of, would reduce the preponderance of Labour representation, which in present circumstances was unavoidable. The question of the representation of women had been raised by various organizations, and this, said the Prime Minister, would receive further consideration in the light of the scope of the council’s future work. The personnel of the council is as follows: —- The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash. The Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. The Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan. The Minister of National Service, Mr. Semple. Mr. IV. W. Mulholland, president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mr. R. Eddy, president of the New Zealand Workers’ Union. Mr. C. C. Davis, representing the Employers’ Federation. Mr. A. McLagan, president of the Federation of Labour. Mr. Perry, M.L.C., president of the New Zealaud Returned Soldiers' Association. Mr. Tirlkatene, M.P., returned soldier representing the Maori people. Sir Andrew Russell, returned soldier appointed, by the Government. Mr. Lowry, M.P., returned soldier appointed by the Government. Mr. Atmore, Independent member of Parliament. The Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb, and the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Lee Martin, will alternate in attendance at council meetings according to the subjects under consideration. Other Ministers, chiefs of the armed forces, departmental heads and other officers will attend when necessary. Work Of Committees. The Prime Minister said that the War Council would not impede quick action. “There can be no doubt,” he said, “about the efficiency of the council in this respect, because separate committees will be set up to deal simultaneously with special subjects, making close aud intensive study in their particular fields, and reporting to the full council. “The recommendations can be assured of prompt aud decisive action by the presence on the council of the responsible Ministers. There will be no holding up of decisions, and there will also be no unduly prolonged deliberations. Action is what is required, not debates, but action must be based on the specialized knowledge of the members and close investigation and consideration.

“Of course,” added the Prime Minister, “occasions may arise as they have done within the past few days, when very prompt decisions must be made in furtherance of New Zealand’s war effort. In such cases, Cabinet would take immediate action and, when essential, decisions would even be made on my own responsibility when time is too precious to allow of consultation. There would be no question of tlie work of the council delaying rapid action.”

LARGE ENOUGH Opposition Leader’s Comment “The Opposition is Still -of the same mind on the question of joining the War Council,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hamilton, when asked yesterday to comment on the Government’s action in going ahead with the setting nip of the Council. There were 14 members of the Council as announced yesterday, Mr. Hamilton added, and that was large enough without any representation from the Opposition, -which could offer its assistance when war measures were being discussed in. Parliament.