PARTY POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24632, 13 June 1941, Page 4

PARTY POLITICS

NEED FOR ELIMINATION THE OPPOSITION VIEW NATIONAL GOVERNMENT * URGED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 12. The need for the elimination of party politics in the interests of the war effort was urged by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland. during his speech in the Imprest Supply debate in the House of Representatives to-night. He said the National Party was quite prepared to join in the formation of a national government. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr J. G. Barclay, who was. the next speaker, expressed the view that the Opposition wanted to get into the Government to “ white ant.” it from the inside. Mr Holland declared his readiness to participate in the formation of a national government. He urged, however, that if there was to be a national government it should be formed now. If there was not going to be a national government the people should be told that there was going to be an election. The present was no' time for party squabbles. Full Support Promised

The Opposition would give to the Government of New Zealand and to the Empire its full support in any course the Government thought should be taken in furtherance of the war effort, continued Mr Holland, who added that when he was elected Leader of the Opposition he had gone to Mr Fraser and offered full support for the war effort. Later, Mr Fraser had asked him to join the War Cabinet, and he said he would not join because he considered he ‘ was wanted in it so that he could be legironed. He had offered to do any other work, and was still waiting for the Government to give him his first commission. If the Government asked for a national government and dropped party politics the National Party would drop party politics at once.

Mr Holland added that he had often been asked if there was to be an election. He thought it would be a good thing if that point was cleared up. If there was an intention to form a national government, why not say so, and if not people should be told there was going to be an election. The Opposition’s “ Motive ”

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr J. G. Barclay, referring to the proposal to form a national government, said the Labour Government did not mind getting together, but the actual getting together meant nothing. It was what was done when they got together that counted. He considered that the Opposition wanted to get into the Government to “ white ant ” it from the inside. Both Mr Hamilton and Mr Coates, members of the War Council, had said that the Dominion’s war effort was a worthy one. and with this the Minister agreed. Mr. H. Atmore (Ind., Nelson) said if there was a universal call for a national government then a national government must come; but he had seen no such universal call. If the people wanted an election, they were entitled to it. Speaking of New Zealand’s war effort, he said it was infinitely greater than that of South Africa, Canada, or Australia, and he failed to see how it could be increased further than that if the Opposition joined the Government.

Seriousness of Situation

Mr G. W. Forbes (Opnosition, Hurunui) said he was glad that the debate had taken the form of a discussion on the war situation. The people did not realise the seriousness of the position, and Parliamentarians themselves did not realise its seriousness. He was of the opinion that the members of Parliament should set some example, by putting their differences on one side. It was only human that there should be differences; but, if the members of Parliament could not set those differences on one side, they were of poor metal indeed. “ We in Parliament,” Mr Forbes continued, “are now failing because we have not closed up our ranks, and when we ask the people of New Zealand to close up their ranks, what can they think of our sincerity? ” Mr Forbes said he would not accept the responsibility of carrying the Dominion through the stern days ahead if he was the head of a Government representative of one section of the people. Admittedly, it was the largest section, but an endeavour should, be made to have the support of every section. Was the War Cabinet the utmost Parliamentarians could do? he asked. The formation of a National Government did not mean the sabotaging of the Governments policy. The Forty-hour Week Questioned by the Minister 'of Marketing, Mr J. G. Barclay, about the retention of the 40-hour week, Mr Forbes said it would be a matter for the War Cabinet to decide. If it decided that longer hours were necessary. it would not be worthy of its name if it did not see that the change W ||r l^f d G. Dickie (Opposition. Patea) said that the policy of the Government during its term of office had been to borrow,. spend and tax, and this last year had been a record so far as taxation was concerned, ne expressed the opinion that money had been thrown around with such prodigality, that no one had any confidence in the Government s spending. It was a rather remarkable thing that, although large sums of money were still being put through the totalisators it was not available to buy savings certificates. The reason was_ that there was no confidence in giving it to the Government to spend.

NON-PARTY CABINET REQUEST OF HAWERA MEETING (PA) HAWERA, June 12.’ A meeting of 400 residents representative of the farming and business communities, returned soldiers and Maoris this afternoon unanimously passed a resolution calling upon the Acting Prime .Minister and his colleagues “ to secure the full unity of all sections of the community by forming a non-party Cabinet, not necessarily confined to members of Parliament, but along the lines adopted by Mr Winston Churchill.” ~.. The meeting, which was non-politi-cal. was addressed by four representative speakers, whose theme. was that the course suggested was the only means of obtaining a unified war effort in the Dominion. The resolution is to be forwarded to the Acting Prime Minister (Mr Nash), the Leader of the Opposition. Mr S. G. Holland, the Leader of the Democratic Labour Party, Mr J. A. Lee, and the member for the district.