Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1942. A POLICY OF UNITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 119, 20 April 1942, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1942. A POLICY OF UNITY.

I.v reply to the Labour Party's conference resolution refusing consideration of a National Government during the war, < the National Party has stated a policy -whose very essence is unity in every field of activity. "While it is prepared to support any and every measure which in its opinion will promote national unity in this hour of national danger and crisis, it does not consider that a National Government . . .

would further promote such desirable national unity, but on the contrary would engender disunity" was the text of the Labour resolution framed in accordance with the policy of a party that, it has now been made clear, denies its leader the light to do what he regards as essential. Mr Eraser told the conference: "I believed, and had a vision which 1 still have —it is not a delusion —that we should be strong enough to lead the country as one united force through the war until our country was out of danger and our course victorious, without sacrificing any ideals or principles." Mr Eraser, however, could not rise above the selfishness of his party; yet had he chosen to do so by translating his vision into practical politics by forming an all-in Government he would have received the country's support. Moreover, if the occasion arose when he could not longer continue on party lines, he pledged the conference not that he would try to unite the people in accordance with his vision, but to hand over io those who still believe in party government during this crisis.

Mr Holland's statement and the National Party -resolution strike the lofty note absent from the Labour Party declaration. Its first consideration will be the fullest increase of the war effort and the mobilisation of the country's entire resources to this end. Nothing, he says, will be allowed to stand .in the way of this. The public have seen a good deal of the emergence of selfish interests during the war, all hampering the attainment of a complete effort to win the victory. There will be a demand for equal sacrifices and a nation-wide efficiency drive. As the Labour Party's organisation is preparing for a general election this year (it was postponed in 1941 in the hope that political unity would be achieved) the National Party also must get its own organisation into working order. In the event of success at, the polls its very first act will be to form an allin Government, engaging the "ablest men whether inside of Parliament or not. to help in the colossal task of organising New Zealand for total war." There is a very sharp contrast between this statement of unity and the Labour Party's proposals designed to ensure a 100 per cent. war effort, which favoured directing the searchlight ,of criticism on the shortcomings of others and to be less critical of its own. One rises above party: the other fails to do so.