REPLY TO CRITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21677, 11 June 1940, Page 7

REPLY TO CRITICS

Mr Menzies On National Government United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, June 7. The Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menzies), addressed a representative gathering of businessmen at Sydney to-day and took the opportunity to reply to his critics ‘‘who are sniping at him in all parts of Australia.” He complained chiefly about criticism even by his own supporters who in their clamour for a National Government declared that such a Government would actually be in existence if another Prime Minister were at the head of affairs. Mr Menzies reiterated that a National Government worthy of the name must include the political Labour Party. That was at present impossible as the Labour Party resolutely refused to have anything to do with a National Government. “You might invite Labour into the Ministry but the moment you hinted that we were likely to bring in conscription you would destroy your chance of getting Labour’s co-operation. I, personally, am not going to participate in a National Government if it means that the policy in which you and I believe is to be modified and chopped down to suit the policy of or placate the Opposition. I emphasise that a National Government can be brought about only at. the sacrifice of the Empire training scheme and our policy of sending more and more troops abroad.”