REAL ISSUE EVADED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24739, 16 October 1941, Page 8

REAL ISSUE EVADED

NATIONAL PARTY VIEWPOINT (0.C.) i WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. The disappointment of the National Party that the Government, in choosing to extend the life of Parliament rather than form a non-party Government, had evaded the real issue was emphasised by Mr Alex. Gordon, Dominion president of the National Party, in a statement this evening. "The main purpose to be served in postponing the elections is the avoidance of the recriminations and acrimony inseparable from a hardfought political campaign, but the National Party has consistently held that this objective, as well as the larger question of political unity for the duration of the war, could be best served by the formation of a nonparty Government," he said. "We deplore the attitude of that section of the Labour Party which has made this course impossible, but the responsibility rests with the Government; and since the Government has decided to extend the life of Parliament we accept that decision and pledge ourselves, as in the past, to do our utmost in the common cause."

In the present national emergency, at a time when the National Party organisation was keyed up for an election campaign and all ready to swing into action, the party was prepared, as it had been since the start of the war, to waive any questions of party advantage, said Mr Gordon. For that reason, however much it might disagree with the method adopted, the party bowed to the Government's decision to extend the life of Parliament and so avoid an election at this time of crisis. Attitude of Leader Endorsed

"Had an election taken place, there is little doubt that a marked swing in public opinion would have been revealed, but I am sure that our candidates, members and supporters, ail of whom had lately been working hard in preparation for the expected. campaign, will join with me in endorsing the attitude of our leader. Mr S. G. Holland, and the Parliamentary representatives of the party in their patriotic and public-spirited attitude towards the Government's proposals, by their willingness to forgo an election which would almost certainly have resulted in a great increase in the strength of the Opposition and, perhaps, in a change of Government. 'They have again proved that the party's one interest is the well-being of the country and the Empire." That feeling was common to all members of the National Party, both inside and outside Parliament, said Mr Gordon. Though well aware of the present Government's waning .popularity, and of the pronounced access of support to their own party, they watched with concern—almost with dismay—the sequence of events which began to make an election appear inevitable. Apart from the unpleasantness of political disagreements within the Dominion at this time, it seemed unthinkable that the Dominion's soldiers overseas, perhaps on the brink of another great battle, should be asked to register their political differences as they.stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the common cause. If. therefore, there should be any lingering feelings of. regret at the postponement of the election, there would also be a strong sense of relief.

Appeal for Unity in War Effort

To the candidates, members and officials of the party who had done-such excellent work in recent weeks, when it seemed that an election would take place, and also to Mr, Holland■',. and other members of the Opposition. Mr Gordon extended his warmest thanks. "In the meantime," he concluded, "let all New Zealanders sink their political differences as far as possible in order that the Dominion may play its full part in the present great struggle.''