WAR GOUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 38, 13 August 1942, Page 3

WAR GOUNCIL

TO BE DISBANDED

NEW ADMINISTRATION

The War Council is to cease to function. This decision has been made/because of the setting up of the War Administration which has assumed work . formerly r undertaken by the War Council. ; ; ' The1 Prime Minister- (Mr. Fraser) paid a •warm tribute to the-seirvices; of the members, of the War Council in announcing' today, the unanimous decision of that body that its functions should noW be discontinued. At a recent meeting, the War Council fully discussed its relationship with the War •Administration, and the view was expressed that, following on the assumption by the War Administration of many of the duties and functions previously performed by the War Council, the time was ripe for a full coordination of all the War .Council's duties and functions under the hew administrative body. • In making the recommendation lthat -' the W,ar Council should1 terminate its functions, members offered .to continue' to place their individual services at the disposal of the Government, $nd ;the;Prime.Min-, ister, said that this offer.would gladly be availed of. . : , ' : ;.' ■ ; /real ■■sacrifices.' , . . : ," Mr. Fraser. said 'thai/ as Prime Minister, he was deeply appreciative of the helpful and manner in which War. Council members,had approached every' task with. which they had been confronted. .The basis of servicel was, bf course; on a part-time voluntary basis. In many cases, the attendance of members at monthly meetings, meant travelling considerable

distances from everyday work, thus entailing real sacrifices. The country should realise, its debt to the members of the ■ War Council," which' had been the first body representative of all sections of the community to come together and assume a share of the great and growing war. burden, and its representative, basis had given its recommendations authority' of the first im-j portance. • The Council had carried out its functions on two planes—that of investigation which was done through two committees, the Defence and Military Affairs Committee and the Primary and Secondary Industries' Committee, arid also as a'body of recommendation to the Government and "War Cabinet. The wide representation embodied in the Council !was well shown by the names and offices of its personnel, which were.as follows:—Mr. W. W. Mulholland, president of the New Zealanjd Farmers' Union; the Hon. R. Eddy,' M.L.C., president of the New Zealand Workers' Union; Mr. C. C. Davis, representing the Employ ex*s' Federation; the- Hon. A. McLagan, M.L.C.,,president of the Federation of Labour; the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., president of the New Zealand Returned Services' Association; Mr. E. T. Tirikatene, M.P., returned soldier, representing the Maori people; MajorGeneral Sir Andrew H. Russell, returned soldier, appointed by the Government;- Mr.. L. ,G. Lowry, M.P., returned soldier, appointed by the Government; Mr. H. Atmore, M.P. "I am sure," concluded the Fx-ime !Minister,* "that .the'country■'will, agree with me that the War Council throughout a most difficult period has performed valuable work and that the wholehearted, thanks of the Government and of the' community are due to its.'members >for their unselfish and self-sacrificing devotion to the highly important, deliberate, • and advisory functions which they have so successfully discharged." ~