PARTY DECISION OPPOSED

Southland Times, Issue 24864, 2 October 1942, Page 4

PARTY DECISION OPPOSED

Mr Kyle Intends To Resign (Special) WELLINGTON, October 1. A statement by Mr H. S. S. Kyle, National member for Riccarton, that he intended to sever his connection with the National Party and become an Independent was a fresh development in the political situation today. Mr Kyle revealed that he had opposed the party caucus resolution calling on six reprsentatives of the Opposition to withdraw from the War Administration and the War Cabinet He stated that he was taking his stand by the Minister of the Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, Mr Coates, whose other supporters at Tuesday night’s caucus are understood to have been Mr J. N. Massey (Franklin) and Mr W’. J. Endean (Remuera).

Mr Kyle said in an interview tonight that he had voted against the resolution that the Opposition Ministers be withdrawn from the War Administration and the War Cabinet because he believed it was vital to the war effort that Mr Coates and the Associate Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr Hamilton, should remain in the War Cabinet. “I spoke in the House of Representatives in similar strain before the reconstruction of the War Cabinet,” said Mr Kyle, “and I also expressed the view that the outstanding man to take charge of the defence administration was Mr Coates. In the circumstances I cannot now logically remain a member of the National Party and, having considered what my future position is to be, I intend to become an Independent Nationalist.” REFRAINED FROM VOTING

It is understood that Mr Kyle refrained from voting at the National Party caucus on a motion of confidence in the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, leaving the meeting before the motion was taken. Mr Kyle was formerly senior Opposition Whip, and he resigned this post when Mr Holland succeeded Mr Hamilton as Leader of the Opposition. Mr Holland and three of his colleagues, the Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes, Mr W. J. Polson, the Minister of National Service, Mr W. J. Broadfoot, and the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr W. A. Bodkin, officially resigned as members of the Executive Council today. Their resignations were handed to the clerk of the Executive Council, Mr C. A. Jeffery, for transmission through the constitutional channel to the GovernorGeneral.

No indication has yet been given by Mr Coates and Mr Hamilton about the attitude they intend to adopt. Mr Hamilton is not expected back in Welling-’ ton until Monday, and meetings of the War Cabinet since Tuesday night have been attended by Mr Coates. Asked tonight if any steps had been taken to reallocate the portfolios and ministerial responsibilities surrendered by the Opposition Ministers who have resigned, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, said that this question was receiving his consideration. Beyond that he had nothing to say at present. EXPULSION MAY BE FACED Mr Coates And Mr Hamilton (Special) WELLINGTON, October 1. If the Minister of Armed Forces and War Co-ordination (Mr Coates) and the Associate Minister of Supply (Mr A. Hamilton) decide that they will not resign their positions as members of the War Administration and the War Cabinet, they will face expulsion from ffie National Party. The position of members who would not be prepared to abide by decisions reached by the Parliamentary caucus of the National Party was made clear towards the end of Tuesday night’s] caucus by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland); and the national council of the party, which held a further meeting yesterday, is reported to have decided that members who refused to follow the decision of the caucus would be expelled from the party. Mr Hamilton—who was then leader of the National Party, a position in which he was replaced five months later by Mr Holland by the majority vote of the caucus—and Mr Coates both joined the Wai’ Cabinet when it was formed in June 1940.

Mr Coates has represented Kaipara. in the House of Representatives since 1911, and from 1919 he was a Minister until he became Prime Minister in 1925. The Reform Party led by him was defeated in 1928, but he re-entered the Cabinet as a member of the Coalition Government. Mr Hamilton was elected as the Reform candidate for Wallace in 1919, and with one break has represented that electorate since. PARTY’S ATTITUDE

The attitude of the National Party towards any member who decided not to relinquish office in the War Cabinet or the War Administration was apparently made abundantly plain by Mr Holland during the caucus discussion, in which 23 members took part. His statement was endorsed. It was made when Mr Coates intimated that he?• would reserve his decision on the resignation issue until he had had an, opportunity of discussing the situation with Mr Hamilton.

It is reported that Mr Holland in-* stantly placed his views befor-e the l caucus, saying that every member or the party would have to abide by thje; decisions of the caucus. If a member; no matter who he or she w/as, decided not to carry out the caucus decision on this question, he or she would asked to resign from the party. SUSPENDED SENTENCES Magistrate Consulted (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 1, Commenting further on the suspension of the sentences on the Waikalto miners, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Han. P. Fraser, said today that before tb© decision was arrived at he personalily consulted Mr W. H. Freeman, the Stipendiary Magistrate, who passed this sentence on the miners, and Mr Free * man stated that although in the ordirirary course such sentences must be enforced, because of the urgency of national needs he was firmly of the opiu - ion that everything should be done t<> keep the miners out of gaol and at woi’ik on the lines proposed by the Government. In a further ■ reference to the remjs>sion of the sentences on the seamen and firemen in 1934, Mr Fraser said: “TheWe are certainly one or two differences .in the circumstances of the otherwise exactly parallel administrative acts, First, the sentences on the Waikato miners were suspended on string e:nt conditions, the infringement of whi-ch during the period of the war will b|’i ng the sentences automatically into optotation. The sentences on the seamen in 1934 were completely remitted. Secon idly, the country is at war in 1942 spd extraordinary means to restore t md maintain the war effort and product ion are fully justified. In 1934 there x yas no war; ordinary economic conditions prevailed.” With reference to the jjuhlig stiltg-

ment concerning the terms under which the seamen were released from gaol in 1934, Mr F. P. Walsh, national president of the Federated Seamen’s Union, said today that the terms were: First, that there would be no victimization or logging; secondly, that their wages would continue from the time they left the ship until they returned to it; thirdly, that their half-days due under the agreement would accumulate as though they had not been imprisoned; fourthly, that the time they were away from the ship would not be deducted from their service when computing the time for annual holidays; and fifthly, that they received a free passage back to the ship and a hot meal at Springfield.