COALITION QUESTION

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVIII, Issue 84, 5 April 1940, Page 3

COALITION QUESTION

MR FRASER REVIEWS THE SITUATION “NOT CONTEMPLATED.” WELLINGTON, Last night. The question of a Coalition Government was raised at the annual conference of the New' Zealand Labor Party last week after the Hon. P. Fraser had presented, on behalf of the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, the report of the Parliamentary Labor Party, states the official organ of the Labor Party, the “Standard.” The question was put by a delegate w'ho asked Mr Fraser if he could give a definite assurance to the conference that, in the event of the war situation preventing a General Election being held at, the usual time, the Labor Government would in no circumstances be a party to the formation of a Coalition Government. Mr Fraser said he would ask the delegates to study the constitution of the party, when they would see how it had been framed at every stage years ago so as to ensure that the party would be consulted on all major issues not previously settled. The question of the formation of a ’oalition Government, continued Mr Fi-aser, was most certainly a major one on which the Labor Party must and would be consulted before any decision was arrived at in the very unlikely event of the matter being raised seriously. However, there was no likelihood of the proposal being made. No member of the Government had mentioned or even contemplated such a course.

The Government, Mr Fraser pointed out, had an overwhelming majoriy, and there W'as no indication from the general public of any desire for a Coalition. It was so utterly remote that he was astounded that anyone should entertain the idea. NEXT ELECTION.

With regard to the next General Election, Mr Fraser said that the conference would be meeting in Auckland before the time v T as due for the election He could not say what the war situation would he then, but if it was the same as it was now there would appear no justification for postponing the election.

It would be the duty of the Government to report to next year’s conference regarding the matter, and if in the intervening period any unforeseen circumstances arose, the Government would consult the national executive and if the emergency was big enough, a special conference could be called.

“We were elected to govern the country as a Labor Government,” Mr Fraser continued. “I see no justification for anything to the contrary, but if special circumstances did arise the national executive would call a special conference to deal with .the situation. Any other way is impossible. ’ ’