War Council To Meet Soon

Northern Advocate, 15 November 1940, Page 6

War Council To Meet Soon

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] WELLINGTON, This Day.

The War Council, which meets al long intervals, is to be called together again shortly. The infrequency of its deliberations has created the belief that the War Council has been superseded by the Cabinet, which meets almost every day, but inquiries show that the War Council has not by any means been reduced in importance through the creation of a War Cabinet, and both bodies are functioning fuily. Nationalists’ Attitude During negotiations which preceded the appointment of the Hon. A. Hamilton and the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates as Ministers to co-operate with the Government in the war effort, the National Party took the view that there would be an undesirable duplication if both War Cabinet and War Council were set up. However, Mr Hamiltdn and his colleagues agreed to give the proposals a Mir trial, and the larger body, the War Council, held its first meeting towards the end of June last. Council's Record

It has reviewed the mah-power. situation, and recommended the abolition of voluntary enlistment, the territorial force to be brought up to full establishment by ballot selections of single men;- ,

Voluntary enlistment for home defence and service overseas ended on July 22

Calling togther of the War Council usually foreshadows important policy developments, but the nature of the business at the next meeting has'not yet been disclosed.

P.M. Commends Council

Discussing the relative spheres of War Council and War Cabinet, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, said that the council was certainly a very active and important, body, whose views are taken and advice sought in respect to every important step in war policy. "They are taken as fully as possible into the confidence of the Government,” said Mr Fraser, “and their advfce and recommendations have been most valuable. , ..

“The council set up two committees, one of which deals particularly, with defence problems,. and, works in .association with the Minister for Defence. rWide ReyieW.

“They review the whole position .fn regard to war efforts, on its military side, and make recommendations to the War Council, and also consult the Minister for National Service and his assistant Minister. .. . ~v ; “The second, committee is-, representative of both primary .and secondary industries of the Dominion. .... . “Its responsibility is to keep under constant review the production, side of the war effort, reporting progress tc the War Council, which in turn makes recommendations to the War, Cabinet. “The council is a very valuable, and active advisory body, and has .certainly riot been superseded in any degree by the War Cabinet, which i’s the executive authority.”