MR. FRASER STATES HIS POSITION

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 171, 16 April 1942, Page 6

MR. FRASER STATES HIS POSITION

National Government Issue

DECLARATION TO LABOUR

CONFERENCE

The steps which would be taken in the ev,ent of a stage being reached when he felt that it was impossible for him to carry on ns Prime Minister of a purely Labour Government were outlined by the Prime Minister. Mr. Fraser, in an address to the Labour Party conference, where tlie question of a National Government was dealt with.

Tlie conference, reports Hie official organ of the New Zealand Labour movement, was considering the recommendation of the policy and finance committee opposing the formation of a National Government, and requesting the national executive of the party, the Government, and the Parliamentary Party, to co-operate at all times to increase and improve the country’s war effort and national solidarity. Another recommendation was that tlie party should remain prepared for a general election. Both these were carried.

Stating that lie realised that his personal views were out of line with the opinion of the Parliamentary party ami with those of his colleagues in Cabinet, Mr. Eraser, according to the official report, continued: “I believed and had the vision, which I still have—it is not a delusion — that we should be strong enough to lead the country as one united force through the war till our country was out of danger and our cause victorious without sacrificing any ideals or principles. Consultation with Colleagues.

“If the occasion did arise when I felt that t;he position as it is at present could not continue, the first thing I would do would be to consult my Cabinet colleagues, the Parliamentary Labour Party, and the national executive. Then they could consider the situation. “If this situation arose, and I feit impelled to hand in my resignation, I would then go to the Governor-Gen-eral and tender my resignation as Prime Minister and recommend to him that he call upon the leader of the majority party to take my place. The fact that the election had been postponed would, no doubt, play a part in subsequent events. The Prime Minister emphasized the necessity for securing a maximum of national unity in New Zealand’s war effort, and said that when . they got successfully through the war they should see that the Government in power then was a Government that believed in social reconstruction and social justice as a matter of faith and principle, and not for the sake of expediency. That was the all-important matter, he added. They wanted to be sure that after the war they had the opportunity immediately of carrying out their ideas and the ideals they believed in and for which, as embodied in the Atlantic Charter, the democratic nations were fighting. (Applause.) Position Blade Clear. ’The Minister of Health, Mr. N'ordineyer, said “the Prime Minister has made his position abundantly clear, and there is no room for further doubt. We know that personally ho favours the formation of a National Government, but lie has made it clear that lie will not do so without agreement with his colleagues and the party. “Further, if he feels it is his duty to resign he will not do so without first informing the party and enabling the party to name his successor, and he will give the Governor-General the name of his successor.”

Mr. Nordmeyer said he hoped that would clear the air. He was sure the conference would be grateful to the Prime Minister for the clear and unequivocal statement lie had made. The recommendations of the committee were adopted unanimously without further discussion.