DOMINION POLICY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20260, 30 May 1940, Page 6

DOMINION POLICY

WAR-TIME ISSUES GISBORNE MEETING SOME LIVELY INTERLUDES COALITION URGED CONSCRIPTION FAVOURED In the face of some opposition and an amendment and following a discussion in which there were some lively interludes, a large meeting in the Opera House last night carried a motion urging the Government to form a Coalition Government for the conduct of the war and to immediately. introduce the conscription of all the Dominion’s resources. Three speakers who were asked to address the meeting gave the Government credit for the proposals brought forward, but maintained that adjustments were required in the contemplated policy. The meeting was then thrown open to any other member of the audience who chose to mount the platform, and the opportunity was availed of by a large number, both of supporters and opponents of the motion. The final resolution of the meeting was: — “That this meeting of the people of Gisborne and Poverty Bay, while fully appreciating the value of the war measures of the Government as indicated in the latest pronouncements of the Prime Minister, is of the opinion that the proposals are inadequate to meet the situation and that the essential step to enable such measures to function is the formation of a united all-party War Cabinet. “This meeting, therefore, respectfully urges the Prime Minister without delay to appoint a -Cabinet on the lines adopted in Great Britain. “Further, this meeting earnestly recommends the introduction of universal and compulsory military training and the conscription of manver and all the resources of the Dominion both for military and for industrial purposes.” Looking for a. Lead The chair was taken by Mr. W. G. Sherratt, chairman of the Cook County Council, who convened the meeting. He apologised for the absence of the Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., who had been called to Wellington. Mr. Sherratt said he was pleased to see such a large attendance, this indicating the keen interest that had been aroused in the most recent events overseas. He said the people were looking to the Government to give a lead and to urge everyone to sink all petty quarrels so that they could go ahead to win the war. The people were fighting for their homes, and if the Allies lost the war their homes would not be theirs. The first speaker was Mr. C. H. Williams, president of the Poverty Bay and East Coast Sheepowners’ Union, who moved the motion, which at that time did not include reference to all resources of the Dominion. Speaking to the motion, Mr. Wil liams said that there had been a sug gestion in some quarters that such meetings had been called for party political purposes and to embarrass the Government, but he wished to emphatically deny such a suggestion. If a person holding such a view was present, he had no right to be sitting among decent patriotic people. (Ap plause.) An Uneasy Feeling The purpose of the meeting was the result of an uneasy feeling that we in New Zealand were not playing our full part and relying too much on the energies of other people, or. in other words, that we were not taking the war seriously enough. In expressing their 'convictions at such meetings, the people were using what was their right in a free and democratic country. They wished to do all they could to assist the Government to guide the nation successfully through the crisis. The reason which appeared to justify the request for an all-party National Cabinet on the lines of that adopted by the British Government, Mr. Williams continued, was that the measures proposed by the Government, commendable though they were, were so far-reaching that they could not be carried through without the whole-hearted support of the community by a party representing only a section of the community. (Applause.) The only way was to sink all political

differences in a united effort to win the war. (Applause.) The party now m power was elected under certain pledges and was lied together to a degree by those pledges. To go back on those pledges was a difficult task and might lead to procrastination and delay. The recommendation contained in the motion would overcome those objections. Referring to military training, he said that the Allies were opposing an enemy trained practically from the cradle, and it was impossible for halftrained forces to meet such forces with any prospect of success. A new feature was the blitzkrieg, or lightning war. No time was given for turning civilians into soldiers, and training was necessary in these modern times. The most tragic mistake in the history of this country was the repeal of the national compulsory training scheme. A voice: Who did it? Mr. Williams: I do not care who did it. It.was a crime of the worst kind to abolish the scheme. Mr. Williams said that conscription was obviously necessary in the light of events in recent years. New Zealand should follow the English precedent in its entirety. (Applause.) He did not wish to belittle the eiforts of the Government, for he knew that genuine efforts had been made on all sides to meet the situation. Mr. Williams, in response to a request, read the motion again. A voice: What about the wealth? Mr. Williams: The conscription of the wealth is already provided for in the proposals of the. Government as pronounced by the Prime Minister, and we heartily endorse those proposals. He added that he was quite prepared to include in the motion a recommendation for the conscription of all the resources of the Dominion. (Applause.) Confidence Required The second speaker who was invited to address the meeting was Mr. K. A. Woodward, the main portion of whose remarks are . summarised elsewhere. He was followed by Mr. F. R. Ball, chairman of the Poverty Bay Electric-Power Board. Mr. Ball said that if the Government had been at fault in the war effort, the people also had been at fault, for it was only now at this time of trial that the necessity for effort was realised. Unless the Government decided to • form something in the nature of a Coalition War Cabinet the country would not get that 100 per cent of efficiency in the w-ar effort. A voice: Why? Mr. Ball: Because we cannot do n without the unity that will inspire the confidence of all the people in New Zealand. (Applause.) I do not say that a Coalition Government will be better than the Government of the present time, but it will inspire confidence. People were inclined to wonder why the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, had not madd a more definite promise •.regarding the .Dominion’s war effort, Mr. • Ball added, but he realised that the Prime Minister could not make a more definite statement, because the Government was under certain pledges. He believed that conscription would be endorsed, but he was not so sure of the Coalition problem. He appealed to the Labour people to give the Government a free hand to use its initiative in the matter. Unity in the country was the greatest requirement at present to secure the greatest War effort. (Applause.) Various Opinions Other speakers in the main body .if the hall were then invited to address the meeting so long as they took the platform. Mr. McDonald, speaking against the motion, contended that the Governnent was playing its part well in the var effort. The Government had stated :hat under the voluntary system the government was securing all the recruits it could cater for and the voluntary system was working well. The ■ speaker was asked by a member of the audience what his position was, and he replied that he was waiting to be called up with the next satch of recruits. (.Applause.) Mr. M. T. B. Hall, who followed said that New Zealand . had failed to take adequate steps for the protection of the country. Mr. T. Todd said that Mr. McDonald had proved the case for the motion by saying that the men were corning forward well for the voluntary system, but married men were going while the single men stayed a: home. That was why a Coalition Government was required, whereby the Parties would sink their differences to work for the common cause and to carry on the war with greater enthusiasm than at present. Mr, D. C. Purdie. speaking as r supporter of the Labour policy, suggested that there should be at least one member of the Opposition in the Cabinet during the war. Amendment Submitted Mr. Wat hey moved an amendmentexpressing confidence in the Government putting into effect a war policy ensuring the safety of New Zealand and that any call by the Mother Country would receive art assurance that ail the resources of the Dominion would be placed at her disposal until victory was attained. Mr. F. Winter seconded the amendment, and said that such meetings had been. inspired to discredit the Government in the eyes of New Zealand. (Protests and applause.) He said that in some other parts of New Zealand such meetings were being postponed and no action would be taken until next week. He asked why Gisborne should rush into the matter this week? Mr.’ W. D. Lysnar said he had had no intention of addressing the meeting, but in view of the atmospnere he felt it his duty to do so. The expressions of opinion of two of the opponents of the motion should convince those present of the necessity of a National War Government. The question now was not. a Dominion question, but an Imperial problem (Applause.) He emphasised that if the Nazis succeeded unionism would be abolished. “Price of Co-operation” Mr. Mcn/.ies said that the price of co-operation on the part of the Opposition was to have some members of its party in the Cabinet. Loud voices of protest greeted this remark, which the speaker agreed to withdraw. Mr. E. Lindley said he wished L deny any suggestion that worker:did not care whether Hitler won o' not, and said that the workers were behind the war movement. Replying to an interjector, he said ho fought in the last war and had two sons there now. When the amendment was put to Ihe meeting there was some support for it, but it was declared lost and the motion carried. On the platform with the chairman "’id prineiorl sneakers were Messrs. 11, G. Smith, J. E. Benson. A. .J. Nicol. J, C. Graham. C. IT. Bull, M. J. White, and V & Caulton, i