The Dominion THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1943. A STATEMENT OF INTENTION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 4, 30 September 1943, Page 4

The Dominion THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1943. A STATEMENT OF INTENTION

The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, has made a statement of intention about his future course of action that many people, even among those who supported his Party in the election, will probably agree would have been better left unsaid. It breathes the wrong spirit for these times—that spirit of narrow sectionalism in the Government of the nation in wartime which unquestionably was one of the factors contributing to an election result that amounted to a vote of censure on the part of the general electorate. It would be a waste of time to join issue with the Prime Minister on his own reading of the figures, claiming, as he does, that he has been given a popular mandate. These leave no room for doubt about the state of the public mind. . What now gives cause for regretful concern is. the evident state of the Prime Minister’s mind. There is here no indication of the will and purpose of the head of the Government to seek every means of promoting unity and team-work in the national war effort. On the contrary, he proposes to set and pursue his own course. Contrast his sentiments in this connexion with those expressed by the Leadei.of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, after the announcement of the election results: MR. FRASER. MR- HOLLAND. We do not propose (said Mr. I believe (said Mr. Holland) Fraser) to be handicapped or that the public wants to sec trammelled in any way by shar- party political bickering dropped ing the authority for the carry- and the best men from both sides ing out of our policy, and the formed into a non-party war adlegislative and administrative ministration to. prosecute the plans for its realization, with war effort, but it would appeal any person or party which has that outside pressure is too opposed us and our programme strong and that the. Prime Minisand has been rejected by the ter is determined to carry on people. ... We will do it with- with the present sectional adout any hindrance, even if it is ministration. proffered as help, by any person or party. The most disturbing sentiment expressed in the Prime Minister’s statement above-quoted is the unmistakable note of dictatorial action sounded. It entirely misreads the warning signs of the times as written in the election results. These signs were illuminated by the votes cast against the extremists of the Government Party, and the fate, of Democratic Labour, a new party of extremists. In the same spirit of indifference to public opinion the Government, according to Mr. Fraser, has no intention of adopting a more reasonable, less dictatorial attitude. . ■ This is a bad beginning.. It is a declaration of war against national unity, an emphasis, wholly regrettable, on the Government’s continued adherence to narrow sectionalism in policy and administration, without regard for what those who may have sound and good reason to differ may think or say. That is certainly not the spirit in which the management of the country’s affairs in wartime should be conducted. It would be the wrong spirit at any time.