Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, OCT. 8, 1942. UNFAIR CRITICISM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 265, 8 October 1942, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, OCT. 8, 1942. UNFAIR CRITICISM.

I>- resigning' from the War Cabinet in accordance with the resolution under which Mr Holland and '-three other Nationalist Ministers vacated their offices last week, Messrs Coates and Hamilton have complied with the letter of this resolution. In accepting the Prime Minister's request that they rejoin the War Cabinet in their private capacity they have ignored the spirit of the decision the National Party caucus made. That, however, is purely a personal matter for Mr Coates and Mr Hamilton. They have dissociated themselves from the views expressed by the four other Ministers, and believe that they can best serve their country by remaining in the War Cabinet. For that they cannot be blamed. Unfortunately, however, both have issued a joint statement in which the caucus decision and the other Ministers' action have been unwarrantably criticised. The caucus decision was neither "precipitate" nor "drastic." It was made after due deliberation, and by a majority vote, which concluded that the Government had failed in its duty to the country. A vital principle was at stake, one to which Labour Ministers bad been the first to draw the miners' attention, and the suggestion that the decision was made to gain some political advantage is as unjust as it is unworthy.

Neither is it correct to say that the resignations are a "political strike." Mr Holland worked hard to achieve political unity, and though the utmost result was the War Administration—a clumsy arrangement —he has been sincere in his attempt to make it a success. In this he has been loyally helped by all the Nationalist Ministers. But the War Administration's end was the result of Government vacillation. Having invoked the law against the miners it refused to permit it to function. 'lf that were its intention all through, then the proceedings were a farce which brought the law into contempt. Mr Coates and Mr Hamilton declare that they do not condone the strikers' action, but what they say gives the public a contrary view- Unreasonable also is their criticism of Mr Holland's demand for a general election as "precipitate and drastic." The War Administration's formation led to the postponement of the election, but the return to party government materially alters the position. Mr Fraser himself emphatically declared that |if the War Administration failed to function an appeal to .the country would be inevitable. The matter is one to be discussed dispassionatelv when Parliament reassembles, so that a decision in the national interests can be reached. Certainly the Pacific situation was not as favourable as it is to-day when Mr Eraser made his unequivocal declaration.