MR HOLLAND DECLARES "I WOULD RESIGN”

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 May 1949, Page 5

MR HOLLAND DECLARES "I WOULD RESIGN”

AUCKLAND, This Day (P.A.).—

“Let there be no misunderstanding about the National Party’s attitude on defence. We accept it as our duty to carry a full share of the burden and on becoming the Government will make full provision for universal training,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, today. “The decision of the conference of the Labour Party to reject the recommendations which the Prime Minister voiced in the strongest terms and with the deepest convictions, discloses the appalling position into -which the Government of this country has deteriorated. “It is easy to’ see who governs New Zealand. Mr Fraser has said the entire Cabinet and, with one exception, the whole Parliamentary Labour Party was unanimous that universal training for defence was the plain duty of New Zealand, and yet an outside organisation, having no r sponsibility to the electors, can override the Government of the day and turn down the unanimous recommendation of caucus.”

It was sad to think, said Mr Holland, that the power of outside pressure was such that the Government refused to govern, refused to share adequately with the Mother Country the burden of defence and refused to do its duty. “The Prime Minister is quite right when he says that 19 out of 29 people will condemn the Government for not making adequate defence- provision. If I were made to suffer the same humiliation that is the Prime Minister’s lot, I would resign my leadership of the National Party on the spot,” Mr Holland-added. “Magnificent Stand” “It would appear that the N.Z.R.S.A. carried its resolution before it knew the fate of Mr Fraser's resolutions,” said Mr Holland commenting on a Press Association message from Wellington about the reaction of the Dominion executive of the R.S.A. to the statement by. Mr Fraser on defence.

“The magnificent stand taken by the Prime Minister means that New Zealand will be left 'virtually defenceless. because an outside body has decided that the Prime Minister and the members of caucus with inside knowledge are wrong in their views on New Zealand defence needs,” said Mr Holland. “The R.S.A. is supposed to be a hon-poli-tical body, but I am bound to say I do not recall receiving any similar message when the National Parly announced its policy decision in favour of universal training.

“I can only assume,” he said, “that the omission was only an unfortunate oversight.”;'