CONFLICTING VIEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 198, 23 July 1941, Page 6

CONFLICTING VIEWS.

CO-OPERATION IN WAR EFFORT. (Special.) WELLINGTON, July 22. As one Government member alter another mentioned Opposition sugges-! lions for greater co-operation in the] war effort in the House of Representatives to-night it was evident, during the continuation of the financial de- , bate, that the strongest • possible objections are felt by Government back-benchers, in particular, to any rapprochement. Air W. A. Bodkin, from the front Opposition benches, summed up the position in the declaration that the Government would clarify the situation on the day when they had decided on the date of the general election and the Prime Minister would get up in the House to state it. “Meanwhile,’' he concluded, “the matter will remain in obscurity, except for the frank and honest statement of the 'Minister ot Health during the Wuitemata byelection.” The member for Clutlia was referring to Air Nordmeycr’s statement j ' that a National Government was not | : possible and the Alinister’s own per- ; sonal view was that there would be : a general election at the usual date. Finally, from the Minister of Housing (Mr Armstrong), came a humorous reference to the National Government ideal. He had been amused, he said, at the Opposition Leader’s pleading : they must puli' together when he had 1 just returned from a tour of the coun- I try on a “pull together'Yampaign. I (Government laughter.) He had told his people “we cannot kill the Govern- ; ment any other way so wo will join j them anil bore from within.” “That,” concluded Air Armstrong. ] “is tlie Communist idea.” • ] Mr 1). C. Kidd (Nat,, Waikato): Do von know? • ■ ' ' ' . , Mr Armstrong: Sure. I could not : talk about it if 1 didirt just know. '