WITHDRAWAL FROM WAR ADMINISTRATION

Southland Times, Issue 24862, 30 September 1942, Page 4

WITHDRAWAL FROM WAR ADMINISTRATION

DECISION OF OPPOSITION CAUCUS (Special) WELLINGTON, September 29. A decision that as a protest against the handling of the Waikato coal strike, the six representatives of the Opposition in the War Administration and the War Cabinet be withdrawn and the Prime Minister notified accordingly was made at a caucus of the parliamentary Opposition tonight, An announcement to this effect was made by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. S. G. Holland, at the conclusion of the caucus. This means that Mr Holland, the Hon. W. J. Polson, the Hon. W. A. Bodkin and the Hon. W. J. Broadfoot will resign immediately, but the position of the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates and the Hon. Adam Hamilton is to be determined by themselves after consultation.

In a statement after the caucus, Mr Holland said he found himself in an intolerable situation, being a member of an Administration which found itself unable or unwilling to enforce its own laws. He felt that to. continue that association, thus implying acquiescence in this and future decisions of a like character, would be a disservice to the people of New Zealand. “In entering the War Administration,” he said, “I had the sincere convicition that I and my colleagues could make an effective contribution to the management of the country’s affairs at this period, while we also felt that the avoidance of party strife was an important objective. So long as the Government submits to the will of undisciplined minorities, however, the political truce is fictitious, for it means that while patriotic citizens have endeavoured to submerge their differences in die interests of unity, a small disloyal section is encouraged to make a mockery of their efforts. “I have long viewed with concern the Government’s tendencies to take the line of least resistance in industrial disputes. I have felt that by exhibiting firm, fearless and even-handed justice as between the parties to such disputes, it would not only have obviated many of its troubles, but would also have rallied to its support . the overwhelming mass of loyal, patriotic New Zealanders, who are disgusted at the indefensible manner in which subversive minorities are able to engineer serious interruptions to the war production while in New Zealand training camps and on the war fronts overseas our fighting men carry on their duty with no thought except loyalty to their country and winning the war. OVER 200 STRIKES “As long ago as October 1939, under the Strike and Lockout Emergency Regulations, the Government took ample power to deal with industrial stoppages by the provision of penalties severe enough to be a substantial deterrent against either employers or employees who were not playing the game,” said Mr Holland. “Since then there have been over 200 strikes, but despite repeated threats by Ministers the penalties were seldom put into effect. “No one, least of all myself, derives any pleasure from seeing men sent to gaol, but it is obvious that men who, to quote the Hon. D. G. Sullivan when acting Prime Minister, perform an act equivalent to torpedoing a New Zealand supply ship on the high seas, should not go unpunished. The Government appeared to realize this when I was assured by Labour Ministers that the proceedings against the Pukemiro strikers would not be interfered with. In spite of this the law has once again been brought into contempt. “I find it difficult to reconcile this extraordinary capitulation with the strong words used by Mr Fraser in the House on March 20 of this year when, after trouble in the freezing works, he threatened to resign, saying that the limit of his endurance had been reached and that he would appeal to the ordinary decent citizens of New Zealand to support the Government in whatever action it might have to take. I am certain Mr Fraser did not underestimate the loyalty and courage of the peole when he proposed to appeal to them in that way, but unfortunately the Government once again failed to take its stand on a matter of principle when the great majority of

I citizens of whatever shade of poltical opinion would have given it their support. RAILWAYS DISORGANIZED “As a result of the Huntly trouble the North Island railway system, serving some of the largest productive areas and some of our most vital war industries, has been completely disorganized, while last week-end thousands of soldiers, many of them married men with families, were denied their well-earned leave because of this unpardonable stoppage of work. In spite of this, in spite of the Government’s wide powers, and in spite of the vehemence with which Mr Sullivan, Mr Webb and Mr Semple had denounced the strikers, the latter have carried the day. They have gone back to the mines on their own terms without penalty. These facts forced us to reconsider the position of myself and my colleagues in the War Administration. “Since assuming office we have done our best to perform the tasks assigned to us and we may claim to have given some service. I regret that there has not been lack of friction, and at a suitable time I will refer to' another matter which influenced me in the decision now reached. At the same time my experience in the War Administration led to the conclusion that there was, and is, scope for effective work by such a combined administration, but subject to the essential proviso that there must be mutual trust and respect between the partners, and that cannot be had when vital issues are sidestepped by the major party. THE MAIN ISSUE “The issue before us now is whether the law is to be observed and whether the Government is to rule or whether unscrupulous and irresponsible elements are to dictate to the Government. When a State neglects to enforce its own laws it sows the seeds of anarchy. When it gives lawbreakers more than they broke the law to get, it means an end to constitutional Government. Not only do these tendencies diminish respect for established order, but the taking over of the mines by the State at the dictates of the strikers creates a precedent which might involve the country in complete economic chaos. “My colleagues and I, with the endorsement of the caucus, have been forced to the conclusion that the continued evasion of these issues demands, from us the most emphatic protest it is in our power to make, and we will therefore tender our resignations to the Governor-General. If the Prime Minister questions the merit of this decision, an election as soon as the war situation permits would appear to be the best solution. In the meantime, though unable to assist him in a direct capacity as a Minister, I have offered my co-operation, as before, in assisting the war effort in any way possible.” MR COATES’S COMMENT (Special) WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. Invited to comment on the position of himself and Mr Hamilton, Mr Coates said after the caucus that they would discuss the party’s resolution as it affected themselves when Mr Hamilton returned to Wellington later in the week. Speaking of his own attitude, Mr Coates said he would continue to sen ,r * his country in this hour of peril in whatever capacity it was thought bis experience might be used best.