LABOUR VIEW

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 17 October 1941, Page 4

LABOUR VIEW

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WOULD DISUNITE TARTY VIEW OI LEADER Ol I PPER HOUSE j 'From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, Tin Day. I The objection of Labour supporters 1 throughout New Zealand to a non- ' party Government during the war per • liod was revealed by the Leader of the j T Legislative Council UYI, Wilson) when 1 l.» was moving the second reading of j. the Prolongation of Parliament Bill in the Council yesterday afternoon. Mr Wilson said that the formation of a ’ non-party Government would remove , controversy, but what was gained cm one hand would be lo: t on the other . because of the attitude of 250,000 Labc ui supporters. t Mr Wilson said that lie believed that , members of the Council would agree r that there was a feeling of relief, not only in political circles but also I throughout the country, that the politit cal parties had agreed to prolong the > life of Parliament. The Hon. W Perry (Wellington): 1 Hear, hear! The war situation precluded the possibility of an election with any de- ' ccncy, Mr Wilson added. They could assume from the news in the cables ; that it would not be a surprise if a big battle or series of battles commenced in * Libya at any time. It would be impossible for New Z aland soldiers to record their votes i f they were out In ’ the desert in the midst of a battle. The unsettled state of affairs in the Far , East also made it plain that no one could say from day to day what the situation might be in the near future. Under all these circumstances it was impossible to consider an election. j It had been said that a National or I non-party Government would have , been a solution to the problem, Mr ; Wilson continued. He did not think that unity could be achieved in that I way. Realities must be faced. There I' was a considerable body of voters i who would not agree to a National 1 Government. A National Government 1 would lead to a cessation of contro- ' versy, but a quarter of a million adults associated with the Labour Party j would be disunited. What would be gained on the one hand would be lost F on the other. In any case the Govern- || p ent was. in view of its record during /, the past two years, entitled to continue ! ( ti direct the country’s war effort. The Bill, which was supported by a j number of other speakers, was put 3 i through all stages and passed.