FOUR TO RESIGN TODAY

Southland Times, Issue 24863, 1 October 1942, Page 4

FOUR TO RESIGN TODAY

SPECULATION ABOUT OTHER TWO (Special) WELLINGTON, Sept. 30 Four of the Ministers involved in the decision of the National Party caucus to withdraw six representatives of the Opposition in the War Administration and the War Cabinet are expected to tender their resignations as members of the Executive Council to the' GovernorGeneral tomorrow. They are . the Leader of the Opposition and Minister in charge of war expenditure, Mr Holland, the Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes, Mr Polson, the Minister of National Service, Mr Broadfoot and the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr Bodkin. These four Ministers were busy today clearing up the work they had on hand at the time the caucus decision was made last night.. Telegrams congratulating him on the stand he had taken were received by Mr Holland during the day from all parts of the Dominion. He is leaving Wellington on Friday for his home in the South Island. The attitude likely to be adopted by the other two Opposition Ministers concerned, the Minister of Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, Mr Coates, and the Association Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr Hamilton, is the subject of much curiosity and interest in political quarters. As stated by Mr Coates after last night’s caucus, they intend to discuss the party’s resolution as it affects themselves when Mr Hamilton returns to Wellington from the South Island. The belief is generally held that both Mr Coates and Mr Hamilton will continue as members of the War Cabinet, having been appointed to it as representatives of the Opposition when it was formed in July 1940. The hope that they would find it possible to continue to use their administrative abilities in the-service of the country’s war effort was expressed today, by the Prime Minster, who paid a tribute to their invaluable services as members of the War Cabinet since its inception. Should Mr Coates and Mr Hamilton continue as members of the War Cabinet it seems very likely that they would become involved in a breach with their party, and the possibility of steps being taken in such circumstances to expel them from the party cannot be disregarded.

“NOT INTERESTED IN PARTY POLITICS” Comment By Mr Hamilton “The decision came as a surprise to me even though I knew it was a possibility,” said the Hon. Adam Hamilton when invited to comment on the decision of the National Party caucus to withdraw from the War Administration. “I thought it would have received further discussion. Until I have a talk with a former colleague of the War Cabinet, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, I feel it is neither wise nor necessary for me at this distance to offer any comment. The only thing I may say is that I am not particularly interested these days in party politics.” Mr Hamilton expects to remain in Invercargill until about the end of this week. MR POLSON’S~RESIGNATION REGRETTED "The news of the resignation of the Hon. W. J. Polson from the office of Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes will be received with regret by all primary producers,” said Mr E. A. Cameron, chairman of the Southland Council of Primary Production, in a statement last night. “The issue which led up to his action is of tremendous importance to the country, but being political is outside the scope of production councils, these bodies being constituted to deal only with the physical side of production. “The achievements of the organization have at times not been all that was desired, but the fault did not lie with Mr Polson,” he said. “His work has been characterized by a keen and earnest desire to get the job done with fairness to all. It is safe to say that everyone would like to see him continue in the work he has started. Whatever the outcome of the present position, production must go on as usual and all cropping programmes adhered to.” ACTION ENDORSED BY DOMINION COUNCIL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 30. The Opposition’s decision to withdraw its representatives from the War Administration was discussed at a meeting of the Dominion council of the New Zealand National Party today. The following resolutions were carried: “The Dominion council, viewing with deep concern the trend of affairs as revealed by the handling of the Huntly coal strike, expresses its approval of the action taken by the Parliamentary caucus in withdrawing its representatives from the War Administration and reaffirms confidence in Mr Holland as leader of the party.”' “The Dominion council takes exception to the extension of State control in the coal industry as an expedient in the settlement of disputes. It considers that a disastrous precedent will thus be established, leading to further socialization of industry at the instigation of disaffected minorities and without legislative sanction.” A motion expressing appreciation of the spirit of sacrifice by National Ministers in the War Administrations in resigning their portfolios and accompanying emoluments in vindication of their ideals was also carried.

GOVERNMENT CRITICIZED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, September 30. A statement on the resignations from the War Administration and the War Cabinet was made tonight by the president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, Captain S. Holm, who said the Associated Chambers had received telegrams from constituent; chambers in all parts of the Dominion. "The resignations,” he said, “are the largest single protest of many protests, including one by the Associated Chambers, made against the highly reprehensible attitude of the Government in setting aside the law of the land and of the courts of the land to meet the demands of the miners. The strikers are a small minority of the people," Captain Holm said, “but they hold a key position in the country's war economy which they have used to flout all authority, disrupt transport and disorganize distribution in a most critical period for ourselves and our Allies. The Government should see that its irresolute attitude, which has resulted in the appeasement of recalcitrant elements in the community, must be speedily amended. It should see that respect for the law is restored and upheld, and that its requirements are enforced; otherwise such a precedent as their present action establishes may lead to industrial dislocation.”