POLITICAL SITUATION

Evening Star, Issue 23744, 27 November 1940, Page 3

POLITICAL SITUATION

SHIFT OF NATIONAL LEADERSHIP i:ew sparkle *ro opposition [FIIOJI Gull I’AULIAMENTAUV ReI’OUTEK.] WI?LHNGTON, November 2G. >The appointment of tuc Leader of the Opposition is not officially noticed by tlio House of jtepresentauvOfs, but on tuo lesumpiioii ut Lbo session yesterday attenioou mere were cheerful private greetings tor Air Holland trom Goverumout members when be took Ids trontbench position just belore Mr Speaker entered. Mr Holland has come to the front from the back benches, and his old place is filled by the party's newest recruit, Mr Marker (Waipawa), wiio was sworn in at the opening proceedings. Tho Opposition trout benen now comprises the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Mr S. G. Holland, the Hon. A. Hamilton, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Sir Alfred Ransom, Mr Kyle (Chief Whip), and Mr W. A. .Bodkin, sitting in that order. Some additional sparkle seemed to prevail on, the Opposition benches as if to show that the team had been stimulated, for the challenging of Government moves was more emphatic as if to provoke in Parliament the controversy which farmers have been conducting in tho country over the Small Farms Settlement Bill, the second reading of which had been suspended by the previous adjournment of the session. The Prime Minister proceeded with it half an hour after the House had resumed. He moved urgency for all stages, explaining that he did not wish to push the business beyond midnight. “ Why urgency?” protested Mr Poison.

“ It is urgent to finish the business of the session,” retorted the Prime Minister, whose motion was challenged to a division with the inevitable result, 43 favouring it and the minority being 21. It may take a few days before there are further developments of the political situation following Mr Hamilton’s change of status. It is admitted by the Opposition that the arrangement for their inclusion in the War Cabinet is a mutual party matter on which the views of Labour members shall be' taken. They may insist that a War Cabinet which does not include the Leader of tho Opposition is not truly representative of the national war effort, but if as a consequence Mr Hamilton has to resign his Ministerial position his close colleague, Mr Coates, may decline to continue, and tho whole arrangement between Hie parties may break down. The Government Party’s reaction to the latest development is unlikely to take shape until there has been a party discussion.