NEED OF UNITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1941, Page 4

NEED OF UNITY

IN PLACE OF DEPLORABLE WRANGLING URGED BY MR DOWNIE STEWART. — POSTPONEMENT OF ELECTION ADVOCATED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright! DUNEDIN, August 29. “Everyone is agreed, that in the present crisis national unity is of supreme importance if we are to make our full war effort,’’ said Mr W. Downie Stewart tonight. “Day by day members of Parliament on. both side of the House plead fox’ the laying aside of party conflict to concentrate on the war. Every day the party fight grows more bitter and the debates have sunk into nothing more than violent personal recrimination. In fact, if members had any realisation of the effect on public opinion of the broadcasting of debates they would cut themselves off the radio without delay. “If national unity is essential, a general election at present can only intensify party bitterness, upset business and industry, waste a large sum of money and hamper' and delay our war effort. “Apart, however, from these obvious facts, consider for a moment the possible results of an election. First, one or more members of the present nonparty War Cabinet may be defeated at the election, in which case new men must take up the task who will lack all the experience and knowledge possessed by the present Ministers. Now, if it is agreed that the present War Cabinet, drawn from both parties, is working well and harmoniously, why jeodardise its work by holding an election in which members of the War Cabinet must not only attack their Cabinet colleagues but run the risk of losing their seats. “Secondly, assuming that the pres-1 ent Government is returned to power, then we are back where we were, only with renewed bitterness, interruption of our war effort and grave disturbance to business. Thirdly, assume that the parties come back evenly balanced, or with Mr Lee’s party holding the balance of power and in a position to rock the boat. Then we find ourselves in the same lamentable plight as Australia, with no stable Government and with an internal conflict that must delight our enemies. Fourthly, assume that the National Party wins the election. Then there follows all the turmoil of a complete changeover and the substitution of a new team in the midst of a life-and-death war crisis. “No doubt it may be argued that matters have drifted too far and that it is now too late to postpone an election, but the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, will arrive in New Zealand in a few days, and if he takes a strong line I believe the country, would eagerly support a postponement. If a deputation of business men and trade unionists conferred with Mr Fraser and the Leader of the Opposition we might yet avoid the dangers which I have tried to outline.” ~