CLEAR CALL FOR LEADERSHIP

Southland Times, Issue 24138, 29 May 1940, Page 6

CLEAR CALL FOR LEADERSHIP

Mr Mulholland Sees Great Opportunity PUBLIC ACCUSED OF APATHY (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 28. “No statesman in New Zealand ever had a greater opportunity to do really great actions than the Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) today,” said the Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union (Mr W. W. Mulholland) at a dinner given by the Auckland provincial conference of the union. “I call upon him to step forward and give us the lead we need and unite the nation. I do not think he will fail us.” Throughout New Zealand, Mr Mulholland said, there was a clear call for leadership. If there was some disappointment that it had not been given before it might also be said that this failure'merely reflected the failure of the people themselves until recently to take the war as seriously as they should have. “Now we are standing four-square across the path of the very demons of hell,” he said. “We must put aside petty differences and stand shoulder to shoulder.” It was not enough for a Council to be added to the long list of councils which merely clogged the machinery.. Parties and their wishes must be discarded. New Zealand’s leaders must look only to that which could best inspire the confidence of the whole community. The lead thus given would be generously followed by all. The feeling in New Zealand was not to condone any failure. Mr Fraser now had the opportunity but if he did not take it he would have to face the same position as Mr Neville Chamberlain had had to face in Britain. Addresses were also delivered by speakers representative of both town and country. EXTRA WORK WITHOUT PAY Mr W. J. Truscott, president of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, said a party of 15 men had informed the Colonial Ammunition Company that they were prepared to work six or eight hours nightly without pay after finishing their work. He said he believed that 99 per cent, of New Zealanders only needed to be told what to do. Mr J. Cameron, Auckland secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, said that personally he was prepared to work 20 hours a week for nothing. Colonel Adams, representing the Sheep Owners’ Federation, said farmers could increase production greatly if given a lead, co-ordination and outside help. The formation of a Government with a Cabinet representing a national union of all interests was urged in a remit passed at the conference. The remit also expressed the opinion that a War Council without full executive powers would be neither acceptable nor effective. ALLPARTY WAR CABINET ESTABLISHMENT FAVOURED (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, May 28. At the annual meeting of the Dunedin branch of the South African War Veterans’ Association tonight the following motion was passed unanimously:— “That the Dunedin branch of the South African War Veterans’ Association congratulates the Prime Minister on his assurance that compulsory national service, civil, military and financial, will be given effect to when Parliament meets and considers that the most effective administrative means to carry out this Dominion’s part in the defence of the Empire will be by the establishment of an all-party War Cabinet, thus burying all party politics for the duration of the war. Further, this association desires to congratulate the Minister of. Defence on his devotion to his iob during the past five years.” A further motion, “That this association as a body pledges its loyalty to the Sovereign and offers its services individually or collectively in any capacity deemed desirable by the authorities,” was passed.

DAIRY ASSOCIATION’S RESOLUTION COALITION GOVERNMENT WANTED

(United Press Association) DUNEDIN, May 28. The directors of the South Island Dairy Association today passed a resolution urging the formation of a Coalition Government and the introduction of compulsory military service, conscription of labour and other services and the taking of steps to put an end to the possibility of subversive activity. The Clutha County Council today also passed a resolution urging the formation of a National Government on the lines of action taken in England. It was hoped that if this were done conscription would be introduced. CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER (United Press Association) HAMILTON, May 28. Arrested at Hamilton in connection with the sensational street shooting incident in Victoria street on Saturday night Christopher Howe Nicholson, aged 43, of Hamilton, described as a showman and a bookmaker, was charged in the Police Court at Hamilton today with the attempted murder of Harold Thomas Newton, aged 42, a showman. An application for bail was refused, the accused being remanded until June 6.

ACTION AGAINST ALIENS URGED (United Press Association) NELSON, May 28. A meeting of the women of Nelson, convened by the Mayoress, passed a resolution thanking the Government for its assurance that a War Council would be set up and requesting the Prime Minister to follow Britain’s lead in its entirety and set up a National War Council comprising the ablest brains of the country, irrespective of party; also that the Government should take all the necessary steps to deal with enemy aliens, their agents and eradicate all seditious tendencies arising from communistic or other sources.