PARTY POLITICS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 56, 4 September 1939, Page 11

PARTY POLITICS

IN THE BACKGROUND

CABINET WILL CARRY ON

' No political developments are likely in New Zealand as the. result of the outbreak of war. This subject has been under discussion" among- members of the House of Representatives for sev-

eral days, .and the belief.in Opposition circles is that Cabinet will carry on its heavy tasks without the necessity to call for assistance from outside the ranks of the Labour Party, At a very early stage in the present crisis the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. A. Hamilton) made clear the desire of his party fully to support the Government, in any necessary measures required. , The Acting Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) : at that time -was already immersed in heavy responsibilities associated with the state of emergency, and Opposition members gave a very practical indication of their desire to help by passing many classes of Estimates under Mr. Eraser's control with the minimum of discussion; The Leader "of the Opposition, after consultation with the Acting Prime Minister, cancelled a visit to Christchurch last Saturday week, and he was available for consultation during this weekend. Information of importance regarding developments overseas has been maqle available to Mr. Hamilton through the Prime Minister's Department. Party has thus fallen: completely into the background, and the, business of the House will be greatly accelerated with the assistance of the National Party. Nearly four years of administrative experience have given Ministers a good grip of affairs and the building up of the National Security Organisation under the direction .of the, Cabinet hasj made Ministers thoroughly familiar | with the problems likely to arise j under present circumstances. The recent Pacific Defence Conference held in Wellington, with representatives of the British Government and Australia present, enabled the defence position to be clarified to the last practical detail. Therefore, the Acting Prime Minister was using no mere figure of speech when he affirmed today that New Zealand is well prepared.