ELECTORS’ RIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24911, 9 May 1942, Page 4

ELECTORS’ RIGHT

PRIME MINISTER’S PLANS CLEAR STATEMENT URGED (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON. May 8. “ The public has a right to know what the.. Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, intends to do, because the people expect either a National Government or a general election," said Mr F. W; Doidge (Opposition. Tauranga) during the debate on the Financial Statement in the House of Representatives tonight. Mr Doidge said he thought the National Party was prepared for either one or the other. . . “ For more than a year the Prime Minister has been showing that he favours a National Government.” he continued. “The people have a right to know, and I think they do know, why the Prime Minister is unable to carry out what in his heart he desires;. The people suspect that there is a power stronger than he.” Mr Doidge said the Labour conference had banged, bolted, and barred the doors on a National Government, and the Prime Minister seemed to fall into accord, as he spoke of a short campaign. “ Narvik and Dunkirk brought Britain to an awakening,” he added, “Pearl Harbour and Singapore have failed to awaken this Government from its smug complacency." The Prime Minister had nothing to lose but the chains that bound him to his party. He had the example of men like Mr C. R. Attlee. Mr Arthur Greenwood, and Sir Stafford Cripps, but the chains were too tight. .... Mr Doidge said it was amazing that the War Cabinet knew nothing of the contents of the Prime Minister’s recent Financial Statement and nothing of the details of a scheme- involving £186,000.000. One was entitled to ask !<■ there was really a War Cabinet, and. if so. why was it ignorant of these things. It would almost seem that.the War Cabinet was in the nature of a window-dressing. . -