POLITICAL ISSUES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 254, 25 September 1942, Page 2

POLITICAL ISSUES

OPPOSITION AND STRIKE. OBSERVING THE LAAV. (Special.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 25 The decision to hold a _ caucus ol the Parliamentary Opposition next Tuesday raises a number of intriguing questions, and Air Holland s statement of his attitude lias increased interest in tho political situation. AVhatever the developments of next week the stability of the Government will not be involved as Labour has a substantial majority in the House. If it loses the administrative assistance of any section of the Opposition the Government could continue its control of the war effort.

Two questions being asked arc whether Air Holland, alter consulting his party, will dccidq to resign from the War Administration, and, if so, whether the same step will' be taken by the Minister in Charge of War Production (Air Poison), the Atinister of National Service (Mr Broadfoot), and the Minister of Civil Defence (Air Bodkin). It is not felt that the two other Opposition members of the War Administration (Messrs Contes and Hamilton) are likely to withdraw from active support of the Government. When the change of leadership was made resulting in the appointment of Air Holland as Lender of the Opposition the National Caucus resolved to ask Air Coates and Air Hamilton to continue to represent the party in the War Cabinet. There is now a possibility that their positions might be subject to review by the party, although there would he nothing to prevent the Government from asking them to continue as members of the AVer Cabinet.

No indication has been given of tho views held by Alessrs Poison, Broadfoot, and Bodkin. Mr Holland has made it plain that he is taking his stand on the question of whether the law should be observed and those who broke it firmly dealt with. The men sentenced last week are still at largo, but on tho other hand no indication lias been given that the sentence of tho Court will not bo carried out.