Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1939. SEVEN POINTS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1939, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1939. SEVEN POINTS.

IT is beyond question that, if New Zealand is' to bp enabled to put forth her maximum effort in the prosecution of the war, which she has already promised Britain will be done, all sections of the community must put their shoulders to the wheel. It is equally beyond doubt that a change in the present attitude of the Government would go a long way towards achieving the desired national unity. Nothing if? to be gained by vague allegations to the effect that attempts are being made to sabotage the war efforts, nor by a policy of branding as saboteurs those who do not see pye to eyp with thp Government. and who honestly express their views, in the belief that they may thereby bring about an improvement in the existing state of affairs. No Government is infallible, —not even a Labour Government, —and every opportunity of securing the advice of responsible parries outside its own ranks should be taken, in the interests of Dominion welfare. This has more than once been described as a “strange" war. So far as New Zealand is concerned, it is certainly strange that the Government has made no move to accept the co-operation freely offered by the Opposition; on the contrary, it has continued the hostile attitude expected in peace-time, but out of place in time of war, an attitude which is in direct contrast with that adopted by the Government in the Homeland, and by

those in most other countries of the British Commonwealth of Nations. ■Whether the Government believes it or not, Mr. Adam Hamilton and the members of the National Party have the best interests of the Dominion at lieart, and in the matter of patriotism they will yield to none. Moreover, again believe it or not, there are men in the ranks of the Opposition who are at least as capable of leading the country through the present critical period as any members of the party in power. They have definitely stated their willingness to extend their cooperation during the war, and are still prepared to do so, on the reasonable condition that the Government demonstrates a similar spirit, and agrees to postpone “fou the duration” the enactment of measures which cannot be classed as war legislation. Mr. Savage has declared that national unity is not to be bought by a people’s Government by the abandonment of its domestic policy, but he overlooks the fact that only postponement, not abandonment, has been suggested. He also overlooks an-

other fact, that what he describes as a “people’s” Government in reality represents only a section of the people, and that he is not entitled to speak for the remainder. In fact, the high-handed attitude adopted by the Labour spokesmen is becoming more than ever irritating to thousands of New -Zealanders, and it should have been dropped immediately when the outbreak of the war entirely changed the situation. Patriotism, in the sense of national co-opera-tion, is now required, instead of politics.

In another effort to convince the Government of the error of its ways, Mr. Hamilton has enumerated, on behalf of the National Party, a list of seven points concerning policy and administration, the revision of which is regarded as being necessary in order that the Dominion’s War effort should be placed on a united footing, gnd in order that the whole-hearted co-operation of all sections of the community may be forthcoming. The points include a request that the dissemination of unfair partisan propaganda, , particularly through the. medium of radio broadcasts, shall cease; that a clear indication be given to the effect that the war emergency regulations, the commandeer of produce, and other dictatorial measures shall not be permanent; that the drastic policy of imports control shall be amended, in order to give a “fair deal’’ to importers and consumers; that the excessive number of workers now on public works and relief schemes shall be diverted to moreproductive employment; that overseas purchases by the Government be curtailed, so that the available funds may be used for the purchase of goods essential for the maintenance of the standard of living of the public; and that the financial programme be revised, in order to avoid unnecessary expenditure, and to conserve the resources of the country for war purposes. The proposals are made in good faith, and they deserve serious, consideration. If the Government is worthy of its position, that consideration will be given, and will not be affected by any political bias.