Holland Replies To P.M.'s “Mandate” Claim

Northern Advocate, 30 September 1943, Page 4

Holland Replies To P.M.'s “Mandate” Claim

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

“It is quite clear that the outside pressure that dominates the Labour Party has been too strong for Mr Fraser,” said the leader of the National Party (Mr S. G. Holland), when the article by the Prime Minister in “The Standard” was referred to him for comment. “On innumerable occasions in the past Mr Fraser has stated his personal opinion that a National Government was essential for a full war effort. Apparently, however, he is not in a position to implement those opinions.

“It is true that on the day before the election he asked the people to support his party on the next day. However, the majority of the people of New Zealand said by their votes that they opposed the present Government’s administration. Therefore, Mr Fraser’s statement that he feels that he can claim that the Government’s policy has been endorsed, when more than half of the people have voted against the Government, is just about the strangest reckoning one can imagine. Clearly the people had said by their votes that they demand that this Government should refrain from further expansion of State control, internal marketing and suchlike measures of nationalisation, but apparently Mr Fraser is quite unable to take that meaning from the electors’ verdict.”