OUT OF PARTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 263, 6 October 1942, Page 2

OUT OF PARTY

MESSRS COATES AND HAMILTON OPPOSITION LEADER’S VIEW. (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 6. By their decision to remain in the War Cabinet Mr Coates and Air Hamilton have chosen to sever their connection with the National Party. This point was made clear by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland) in a statement this morning. “I have not heard from either Mr Coates or Mr Hamilton,” said Mr Holland, “but from the newspaper reports it appears that they have decided to continue their membership of the War Cabinet, notwithstanding the decision of last week’s caucus of the Parliamentary Opposition. Only two votes were then recorded against the withdrawal of our representation in the War Administration and the War Cabinet, and the decision was unanimously endorsed by the Dominion council of the party, with representatives present from all over New Zealand. “I do not propose entering into a discussion on their joint statement other than to say that by it Mr Coates and Air Hamilton give their approval to the Government’s handling of the Waikato coal strike, they agree with the Government’s interference with the course of justice, and they concur in the Government’s decision to confiscate the, Waikato coal mines as a sop to industrial lawlessness. They have both been members of the War Cabinet throughout the period when the Government’s repeated submission to industrial lawlessness has brought _ about repeated stoppages, culminating in the recent costly and wholly unjustifiable AVaiknto hold-up. “It would appear that they are content to acquiesce in this policy, both in the past and in the future, but the National Party , as a whole does not agree with that attitude. No one imagines for a moment that the resumption of work at Huntly means the end of these disturbances, which will continue while the Government’s weak-kneed handling of them continues.

“The time has . arrived for n showdown that will determine once and for all that our laws will bo observed and that lawbreakers are not going to be permitted to imperil our war effort and defy responsible Government with inip unity.”