HOUSE IGNORED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20959, 5 December 1942, Page 2

HOUSE IGNORED

CABINET ACTIONS PROCEDURECRITICISED RECRUITS FOR FORCES (P.R.) WELLINGTON, Dec. S. Decisions by the War Cabinet without Parliament being consulted were criticised by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. S. G. Holland, in the House of Representatives yesterday. In particular, he referred to the change in the call-up system for military service. “But,” Mr. Holland added, “whatever commitments the War Cabinet has made we must stand by them, and I will help the Government to stand by our commitments. I hope that before we are committed to anything further, we will have an opportunity of expressing our opinions on this important question.’’ The Minister of Industries and Commerce. the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, said this was the first time that any protest had come from, the Opposition about the change in the call-up system. If Mr. Holland had really thought it wrong to change to the age-group system he should have said so. Mr. Holland had been a member of the War Administration and the War Cabinet since the new system had been in operation and not once had he said there should be a reversion to 1 lie previous system. What the Opposition objected to, said Mr. W. J. Poison (Nat. Stratford), was a major change of policy being made by the War Cabinet' without Parliament first being consulted when (here was ample time and opportunity for such a discussion. Parliament Its Own Master

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser: Parliament is always its own master; it can always raise matters.

Mr. Poison: The point raised by (he Leader of the Opposition is that this major change is agreed to by the War Cabinet and then Parliament is told about it afterwards. Mr. Fraser: Would it have made any difference? Mr. Poison: If it doesn’t make any difference, what is the use- of Parliament. If the Prime Minister is going to take that view he might as well disband Parliament altogether. Mr. Fraser replied that as long as the War Cabinet had a majority with it and had the confidence of Parliament it would act on the emergency. K Parliament did not want it, a vote of no-confidence could be moved. Mr. Poison repeated that he thought that Parliament was entitled to be consulted. After all. the War Cabinet was not infallible. The Prime Minister said that New Zealand had never yet failed on any big or important matter when- it had been approached to do something in an emergency, but it could not go on doing that indefinitely. If there was plenty of time to consult Parliament and discuss such requests, that was the right and proper thing to do, but if there was no time and action, was called for the War Cabinet had to. take the full responsibility. If the War Cabinet could not be got together, the Ministers in Wellington had to take the responsibility. If there were no Ministers available, the Prime Minister had to, and’ would; take the responsibility for making decisions. Matters of first-class urgency simply could not be postponed. If the House did not approve of the action taken it could act at any time and it would be given the fullest opportunity, regardless of any standing order.

Rapid Decisions Needed

Mr. Sullivan said that members would have some difficulty in following Mr. Holland in respect to his reference to the War Cabinet doing things without consulting Parliament. It would be utterly impossible to make the rapid decisions necessary for the conduct of the war if those in authority had to wait for the approval of Parliament.

Mr. Sullivan said that Mr. Holland had referred to the impossibility of New Zealand'maintaining large forces overseas and in the Dominion itself. He would like to know what division Mr. Holland’ would eliminate, or what portion of the New Zealand- forces. In what way was the War Cabinet making mistakes? Did the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues desire the division to come back from the Middle East or did they think that New Zealand should refuse to play its part in the Pacific and to render aid to America? Mr. Holland had asked what were the prospects of attack. Mr. Sullivan said he could not repeat the opinions expressed the previous day by the chiefs of the general staff. As far as the V/ar Cabinet was concerned, it had visualised a severe attack on New Zealand, even to the point of invasion, in spite of any opinion to the contrary. The War Cabinet considered its duty to the people was to prepare in that direction. There had never been any suggestion at any time from any member of the House, from any member of the War Cabinet, or from any member of the- War Administration when it was in office, that the War Cabinet was going too far. t The only deduction that could be taken from the attitude of Mr. Holland was that the army should have been of less proportion and the air force of less proportion. It would have been better for Mr. Holland to have said to the House and. to the country that New Zealand should not have such large forces overseas or that there should be a less number of men serving in New Zealand. “What does the hon. gentleman think?” he added. , , ~ Mr. Holland: I think there should be a complete reorganisation of our own forces. ______