NO STAMPEDING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20254, 23 May 1940, Page 4

NO STAMPEDING

GOVERNMENT FIRM ‘ANTI-LABOUR BLITZKRIEG’ PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT WAR POLICY CRITICISED (Per Press Association.). WELLINGTON, this day. Mr. E. R. Toop, president of the People’s movement, has telegraphed to the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, renewing his requests for the calling together of Parliament, the formation of a non-party representative war council, the adoption of compulsory service for military requirements of defence and production, and the establishment of the principle of universal service and sacrifice in the common cause. Mr. Toop declared that the morale of the people was being severely tested by dissatisfaction with the Government’s war policy and asked: “Is it true that certain undertakings were given at or prior to the Labour Party’s Easter conference, and particularly to certain trade union leaders. that compulsory military service would not be adopted and that certain other measures would or would not be introduced?" .. s “111-Informed Hysteria.” Mr. Fraser replied: “I have received your latest attempt to join in the antiLabour ‘blitzkreig’ against the Government. The times are serious and can easily be made more serious by ill-informed hysteria or worse, such as you in your unrepresentative capacity are showing.” Mr. Fraser added that the present time was one of the most serious in the history of the Dominion and the Empire. The Government had a full sense of responsibility and a full knowledge of the facts. It would welcome honest co-operation, but oppose strenuously those who were out to exploit the present extremely critical situation for a concentrated attack upon the Government. The Government was faced with the task of planning the best and most efficient use of the entire resources of the Dominion in {he Empire's common cause. On the present evidence that planning might have to be for years ahead. The struggle had hardly begun.

The Government wqlcomed helpful criticism and practical suggestions and would adopt them wherever possible. but it would not be stampeded by hysterical efforts, some of which might have ulterior motives.