NO LONGER NEEDED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 22 August 1945, Page 4

NO LONGER NEEDED

END OF WAR CABINET

STATEMENT BY MR FRASER Wellington, Aug. .21 The dissolution of the War Cabinet was announced yesterday by the Prime Minister. Mr. Fraser. He said that with the conclusion of hostilities against Japan, War Cabinet had unanimously come to the conclusion that its functions could henceforth he j«cri formed by the Government Cabinet, and that therefore, it. should be dissolved. As :t result of that decision, the Hon. A. Hamilton and the Hon. W. Perry retired by mutual consent and had tendered their resignations to his Excellency the Governor-General. "J should like to express sincere appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. Hamilton since July, 1940, and byMr. Perry since his appointment in 1943 to till the vacancy caused by the death of the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates." said Mr. Fraser. "Both Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Perry have made most valuable contributions to the work of War Cabinet. As Minister in Charge of War Expenditure Mr. Hamilton has been of the greatest assistance by liis careful scrutiny and examination of all sums expended under ihe War Expenses Account. Mr. Perry, through his long association with the Returned Soldiers* Association, and with his practical experience during the period of the last war has also been a most valuable member of War Cabinet. “Both Ministers have played their fuff part in arriving at the decisions, many of them of the greatest complexity and difficulty, which have had to be made from time to time, and they have both displayed the utmost loyalty in upholding those decisions. 'The personal relationships between members have been of the closest and friendliest kind and marked by the highest personal trust. I can any that there have never been any discussions which have not been harmonious and friendly and never at any time have politics entered into those discussions. Tribute to Mr. Coates. “The occasion of the dissolution of War Cabinet is one on which 1. should also recall and pay tribute to the outstanding services of the late Mr. Coates, who, with Mr. Hamilton, was an original member of the War Cabinet when it was formed in the dark days of July, 1940. In puttiug the war effort in the forefront of everything. Mr. Coates’s example served as an inspiration to all. The energy with which he devoted himself to his duties and his wise counsel, based on practical knowledge of, military matters, and his* wide administrative experience made him a most valuable colleague whose untimely loss was a blow not only to the members of War Cabinet but also to the country’s war effort. “As a wartime political administration,” concluded Mr. Fraser, “I believe that War Cabinet has more than justified our highest expectations, and the success of their task is reflected in the manner in which the country’s magnificent war effort has been conducted. At the conclusion of their labours—and 1 would add that ffiey were available at all hours day and night for the country’s war effort—the members of the WatCabinet are parting in a spirit of mutual respect and with feelings of warm personal friendship. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my Kincere appreciation of the valuable services of air other colleagues in the War Cabinet. Mr. Nash, Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Jones."