PARTY TRUCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 6

PARTY TRUCE

The Leader of the Opposition protested to the Acting Prime Minister last week against tlie non-observance of the party truce agreed upon with Mr. Fraser. Mr. Holland cite^d

certain Ministerial statements as breaches of the truce. Mr. Nash, in reply, held that Ministers were entitled to reply to attacks and to make statements and explanations on matters of policy. There can be no doubt, however, that the statements cited by Mr. Holland went much further than was called for in defence of public policy. They were, provocative and quite out of keeping with the spirit that should prevail if a truce is to be maintained. A truce, it should be understood, cannot hold between the leaders only, nor can it be one-sided. If other Ministers feel free to say just what they wish, a truce can be only a sham. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce also has found it necessary to protest, and the Minister of Industries and Commerce in reply has admitted that some of the bodies he attacked have displayed a helpful attitude since the war began. It is satisfactory to have this admission, but we are still of opinion that a truce to party politics cannot be fully achieved until the joint responsibility of parties is recognised in their association for the decision of policy and the direction of administration. Only thus can the party attitude be eliminated and the prewar policies of parties be wholly subordinated to the war effort.