OPEN DEBATE

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1942, Page 5

OPEN DEBATE

ON WAR EFFORT

By N.Z. Parliament

PA. WELLINGTON, March 19. In the House this afternoon, the .Prime Minister (Mr Fraser), after formal business, moved the adjournment, in order to open a discussion on the war effort, which discussion, he hoped, would be as full, free and frank as possible. He understood that it was the unanimous decision of the House that the debate should not be on the air. . . Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition Leader): No I Mr Fraser said he had been under the impression it was, and he certainly thought that such a debate should not be on the air. Mr Holland said he did not desire to put the matter to the test of a vote of the House, but he just wished to make it clear that it was not a unanimous opinion that the debate -should not be on the air.

Mr Fraser moved formally that the debate should not be broadcast.

The motion was carried, without any further Opposition dissent. Opening the debate, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, said that, as a result of the two days’ sitting in secret session, he felt better to-day about the war than he had felt since Pearl Harbour. He knew that it was a pity that every New Zealander could ’ not have been brought into the secret session. (But he urged the public to have confidence that their public men were fearlessly and honestly carrying out their duties. Our defences were improving, he said, and he was of opinion that the appointment of General MacArthur had given greater confidence than had prevailed for some little time.

Unfortunately, he continued, they met as a divided Parliament. Members on his side of the House, since the outbreak of the war, had urged the settling of political differences. It would give the people of New Zealand a greater feeling of security if they put aside their difficulties, and became a united camp. He also thought too much secrecy was being observed, and that this resulted in a certain amount of rumour mongering. It was quite wise not to go on the air sometimes, and to err on the side of safety, but there had not been one word that had gone over the air that the speaker would wish retracted. Nothing had exercised the minds of the people more than unwillingness of political parties to get together. He urged that the best brains, of the country should be utilised. If the Government called on someone outside of Parliament to contribute to their service, such action would have the undivided support of the Opposition. If he were in the road, he said he would be prepared to stand aside and make room for anybody the Government thought had greater capacity. He assured the Government ninety per cent, of the people were demanding a Natonal Government, and that before next November this question would have to be settled. If so, why not consider now, and again, the strength to be obtained by amalgamation. Mr Holland said that, although New Zealand had reason to be very proud of its war effort, he believed the country was capable of even more, and he advocated an overhaul of the Dominion’s domestic expenditure. He also considered that there was no greater impediment in the way of a maximum war effort than the forty-hour week, and he asserted that, if the workers were given the opportunity of working extended hours at ordinary rates of pay; they would jump at it, as an opportunity of making a contribution to the war effort. Ninety-five per cent, of the people were against the Government’s domestic policy on the question . of restricted hours. Mr Holland also drew attention to the fact that there had been 158 illegal strikes, and said the reason for that was that they had been handled weakly; The time had come, when the Government simply must use a firm hand.»

The Minister of Supply (Hon. D. G. Sullivan), expressed doubts as to the need for, or the desirability of a National Government in New Zealand. He said that there, was neither a demand nor a need for a Coalition or a National Government in Australia, where the political position was, approximately, the same as in New Zealand. In Australia, the people seemed to be satisfied with the form of political collaboration that they now had. The War Cabinet had proved very successful in the Dominion. and there was no real, need for a National Government here. In addition to Australia, said the Minister, neither South Africa nor Canada had a National Government. Mr Holland: You have forgotten Britain. Mr Sullivan: The conditions are not the same there.

Mr Harker (Nat., Waipawa): They are now identical. Mr Sullivan referred to Mi’ Holland’s criticism of the level of domestic expenditure. He would ask Mr Holland where the war effort was lagging for lack of monej' being spent upon if. If, as the Leader .of the Opposition had demanded, the domestic expenditure was to be curtailed. he asked in what direction could it be spent oh the war Mr W. A. Bodkin (Nat., Central Otago) advocated a change of attitude by the Government towards such an organisation as the “Awake New Zealand” League, and similar bodies. He suggested that the Prime Minister should confer with those people; as they were actuated by a desire to help, and not by political motives.

Rt. Hon. Mr Fraser drew Mr. Bodkin’s attention to the statement that he had issued on the subject, and said that he was prepared to go north then south, and see these people. Mr Bodkin: Their desire is to save their homes and New Zealand. Mi’ Fraser: “Hear- Hear!” The House adjourned at 5.30 until 7.30. Dr. McMillan (Govt., Dunedin West), suggested a total income limit of five hundred pounds p’er family per annum. He thought it would give a great impetus to the war effort if the Opposition would agree to such a step. He also advocated the introduction of a capital levy. All the agitation for a National Government, he said, fell to the ground because, we had a National Government already. The War Cabinet was a National Government and it was doing practically all the executive work of the country to-day. Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Ind., Egmont), declared that a National Government was desired from one end of the country to the other. No Government representative of one party alone was capable of meeting all. the needs in a time of national crisis. Members should drop all party wrangling, and get together. The Prime Minister was not stooping to that, and he did' not think any of the Ministers was doing so either. Personally, he gave the Government a fair measure of confidence, and and credited it with sincerity and energy, but he believed the people of

New Zealand wanted considerably mere than they were getting to-day. There was too much spent on drink and racing. That could be stopped by a Government representative of the whole House, but not by any one Party. TT The Minister of Labour, Hon. P. C. Webb, answering claims that there had been a large number of industrial stoppages in New Zealand, said they were all of short duration, many being for only one hour or two, or at most a day. Mr Webb added that some people had the idea that the only way to settle labour troubles was with the big stick. Referring to the Westfield strike, he said that the great bulk of the men and women at the Auckland works were industrious people, and comparable with any other section of workers in the country. There were a few there, however, who appeared to have less time for the Government than they had for the Opposition. They felt that the only way to wreck the Government was to bring about chaos, and he could not think of anything more treasonable than the holding up of .production at the present time. Mr Goosman, (Nat., Waikato): Are you going to deal with those few

The Minister: I hope that they will be dealt with.

Mr J. A. Lee (Grey Lynn,), stressed the necessity of accumulating reserves of coal. He said there was a shortage of men in the mines and that this created a problem. His view was that if men were available, even if they were in i.he Army, they should be brought back into industry. He also suggested two war regulations, one to provide the Commissioner of Police with a key, to give him instant admission to backstreet hotels, and another to prohibit boarders inviting friends to hotels and supplying them with liquor. When the House resumed after supper, the Minister of Manpower, (Hon. R. Semple) said there was a measure of truth in. Mr Lee’s statement that the Government would not survive after the war,—but what would that matter any way ? It was the future of the country that mattered, and the liberty of their children who still had their lives to live, and of those yet unborn. P.A. WELLINGTON, March 19. Mr. Harker (b.at., Waipawa), suggested that the members "of the present Ministry should be big enough, to place their, portfolios in the hands of the Prime Minister and to ask him to form a non-party national government for the best interests of the country and empire', He believed in the sale of alcohol to the soldiers in camp canteens. Soldiers would have their beer, and it would be better for them to drink it in camps under* supervision. Rev. F. L. Frost (Govt., New Plymouth), said it was the duty of Parliament to capitalise everything which would tefid to stimulate morale. They had not risen to the opportunity given them. The House rose at midnight.