Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1940. A NEW LEADER

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 129, 27 November 1940, Page 6

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1940. A NEW LEADER

It may be thought strange that the National Party in Parliament should choose this time to appoint a new leader. All attention is concentrated on the war effort, and party politics necessarily take second place. But [ the fact is that party policies have not been set aside. A War Cabinet and a War Council have been formed. From both sides it is stated that the former has proved of great value. Of the work of the War Council little has been heard lately. Yet neither War Cabinet nor War Council represents a complete fusion for the war period of all political interests. . The Labour Government retains its wholly Labour Cabinet, and that Cabinet retains its authority in some of the most important fields of national effort—particularly finance—besides complete administrative control. The revelation that such important financial decisions as those affecting the compulsory war loan were taken without reference to the War Cabinet or consultation with the National members surprised people who had expected a wider interpretation of the War Cabinet's functions. But this revelation showed that Labour policy continued to be a dominating factor; the truce to party politics was not complete.

In these circumstances the National Party is wholly justified in taking such action as it deems advisable to keep its organisation strong and to prepare for the General Election that is due in less than a year. While taking this action it will continue to co-operate with the Government to the extent that the Government is ready to accept co-operation—that is, in a War Cabinet with authority confined to the war effort on an interpretation that excludes such important issues as finance and some aspects of production. The co-operation will be given by the presence of two members in the War Cabinet. The National Party caucus expressly endorsed the work of these members, and asked them to continue. This is not inconsistent with the selection of a new leader in preparation for next year's campaign. It is simply a recognition of fact—the fact that Labour policy, though necessarily modified in parts, continues to be the dominating factor in government. Though Mr. Adam Hamilton now retires from the leadership of the Opposition, he has rendered to the National Party and to New Zealand service of the greatest value. It was his task to re-establish the Opposition after the defeat of 1935, to make it an effective critical body, and to keep before the country the foundation principles of liberal government. He had to do this in face of circumstances that were consistently adverse. Recovery, for which the much-abused Coalition Government had provided the basis, enabled the Government to claim credit for its own policy, and to distribute benefits upon a lavish scale. It was useless for Mr. Hamilton and his fellowmembers in Opposition to urge caution and to emphasise principles. The people, like Omar Khayyam, chose to "take the cash in hand and leave the rest." The cost of that prodigality was not then apparent to the general body of voters. They dismissed warnings as mere reactionary propaganda and were willing to believe that a magical means had been found for giving something for nothing. It is to Mr. Hamilton's en-! during credit that he made the fight in such disheartening circumstances,

with courage and without rancour, steadfastly declaring principles and submitting the Government's policy and practice to reasoned and forceful criticism.

The new leader, Mr. S. G. Holland, enters upon his duties with a better prospect of being rewarded by achievement. The cost of Labour policy is seen—indeed, it has been plainly visible since the end of 1938 —and no war excuses can cloak it. Mr. Holland has the vigour and critical capacity to assure that the lesson is not disregarded. He is young and energetic and has graduated in the best school for political leadership—the school of Opposition. But he will need these qualities. His task, though not so disheartening as that faced by his predecessor, will call for great courage, perseverance, and constructive ability. Though a Government policy may be discredited, people will not reject it to accept mere negation; It will be Mr, Holland's task to submit to the country a better programme, constructive but not illusory, to weld into a united whole the elements opposed to the present regime, and to build up a resolute, intelligent, and capable body of men and women who will command the confidence of the people in constructive reform.