“OFF THE BEAM”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27091, 27 May 1949, Page 4

“OFF THE BEAM”

MR HOLLAND’S SUGGESTION RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER PA WELLINGTON, May 26. “I wish to express my gratitude to Mr Holland for his kindly and wellintentioned proposal that 1 should resign from the position of Prime Minister,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser to-day. 41 The reasons for this friendly solicitude, I am sure, are fully appreciated and accurately appraised at their intrinsic value by everyone. It is a pity that in making his highly magnanimous suggestion, Mr Holland is once more so badly off the .beam.’ It is an advantage for anyone to be acquainted with the facts before talking publicly on any subject. ... . ~ “With the very best will m the world to assist Mr Holland, I cannot see any reason whatever for giving a moment’s serious consideration to his wholly altruistic advice,” Mr Fraser added. He quoted the resolution adopted by the Labour Party conference and his own amendment and said he had put this, forward to meet the opinion of many delegates who while favouring national service, still felt that the people should be consulted in such an important matter directly affecting so many of them. He agreed that there were many advantages, m the amended resolution finally agreed to. “For instance,” he said, a decision by referendum can be obtained much earlier than if the issue were to be placed in the Government election programme and the election result awaited. Then, by having a referendum as early and as far before the general election as possible, this matter of paramount importance will be decided by the people free from party controversial strife and possible acrimony.” % . . In conclusion. Mr Fraser said that -previous to Mr Holland’s statement, he would have thought that Mr Holland would have recoiled from making such an important matter as national service the occasion for purely party comment and criticism.