MR COATES AND MR HAMILTON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 6 October 1942, Page 5

MR COATES AND MR HAMILTON

DECISION TO REMAIN MEMBERS FORMAL RESIGNATIONS MADE FIRST Wellington, This Day. The Minister of Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, Mr Coates, and the Associate Minister of Supply, Mr Hamilton, last night resigned their Ministerial offices in accordance with last week’s majority decision of the National Party caucus to withdraw its six representatives from the War Administration and the War Cabinet. Advice to this effect has been forwarded to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland. Mr Coates and Mr Hamilton both dissociated themselves from the views of the other resigning Ministers. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, was subsequently informed and he immediately invited them to rejoin the War Cabinet and they have acceded to that request, but no longer as National Party representatives. Both were sworn in last night. A joint statement explaining their position was subsequently made by Mr Coates and Mr Hamilton, and was as follows: “As we see the position, there was not sufficient justification in the reason given for the precipitate and drastic action taken by the National Party caucus, and followed immediately by the resignation of four members of the War Administration. We consider, after j careful thought, that our duty to the country is more important than our duty to party.

"We do not condone the action of the strikers. That such an incident should in a time of national crisis be

made the reason for the x-esignation of responsible men from their adminis-ti-ative obligations, however, is unjustifiable. No industrial strike is assisted, or industrial peace assured, by a political strike —and that is what the resignations represent.

"The country is at war. Let those who wish blame the Government. We. for our part, realise the difficulties of any Government in such a crisis, and faced with similar circumstances. Ncyone can deny that the safety of the State and the preservation of its people must be the first consideration of responsible men. Manoeuvring for party advantage by any section in these critical hours can only hamper the counti'y’s effort.

"Now there is Mr Holland's demand for a general election—a demand similarly precipitate and drastic. If that demand is acceded to, what was a cau cur issue becomes an election issue. Electoi's will have to determine whether that issue was of sufficient importance to disrupt such measure of political unity as had been obtained, and throw the country into the distraction of a general election with the enemy so close to our gates.

"The resolution to withdraw from th War Administration was made on the grounds that ‘the law must be maintained.' Apart altogether from the allegation of mishandling of the strike situation, we are concerned as to whether the basis on which certain of our colleagues acted was sound, bearing in mind that members of the National Pai'ty acknowledged that coal must be won. It is not conceivable tl at our people will declare that jail was the only remedy available. The action that was taken was constitu ti on ally right, and there are precedents for it in New Zealand from prior administrations. Admittedly, the executive right to make such a recommendation should be sparingly used, but sui*ely, with the counti'y at war, and with the war effort of our Allies and ourselves at stake, the right to exercise that power should not be made an issue. Such an issue creates disunity and aggravates all forms of economic loss and industrial upset. "The blunt fact remains,” the statement continues, “that if work at the mines had not been resumed in full, there would by now have been a standstill in the North Island in dairy companies, freezing companies and railroad transport, and a heavy reduction in gas and lighting, all of which would have affected the security of our people and our ability to fight.

“We believe that our people support the view that imprisonment should be reverted to as a last resource, and that every other possible expedient must first be explored. In these circumstances our plain duty is clear. It is to accept the Prime Minister’s request, remain at our posts, and continue to render what service we can during our counti'y’s peril.”—P.A.