No Abandonment Of Domestic Policy

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 280, 27 November 1939, Page 6

No Abandonment Of Domestic Policy

PRIME MINISTER’S BROADCAST Reasons for tho Government’s continuing with its domestic policy in spite of tho war were given by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in a broadcast address to the people of New Zealand last evening. He declared that national unity was not to be bought by the abandonment of domestic policy. To do so would undoubtedly placate the section of the community opposed to the Government, but the far larger section belonging to the Government would be antagonised by such abandonment. Thus harmony would be as far away as ever and the Government would have broken faith with its followers and supporters. However, the Government would refrain from consciously using the war in the furtherance of its domestic policy. Mr. Savage intimated that it was out of the question to give an undertaking that certain legislation would be repealed when the war was over, but powers taken for emergency purposes would be repealed or modified when the emergency had passed. He personally had no love for far-reaching war regulations which put national life in a straight-jacket. All those powers were provisional and intended to meet a stato of affairs which all hoped would pass soon, and the day they could say goodbye to them ho would be tho happiest man in New Zealand.

The prosecution of the war to victory was paramount and domestic policy must bo placed second to it. Political controversy, while a peace time necessity, was a luxury in war time and efforts must bo sparingly spent on it. The Government expected the best services from all its citizens.