I DEBATE ON WAR EFFORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 67, 20 March 1942, Page 4

I DEBATE ON WAR EFFORT

MR. HOLLAND EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE DIVIDED PARLIAMENT DEPRECATED I (P.A.) Wellington. March 19. Wh n the Prime Minister, the Hun. P. Fraser moved the adjournment in the House of Representatives this afternoon in ord< r to open the discussion on the war effort, which he hoped would bo as lull, free and frank as possible, he said that he understood that it was the unanimous decision of the House that the debate should not be on the air. Mr. S. G. Holland: “No.” Mr. Fraser said he had been under the impression that it was. and he certainly thought such a debate should not b? on the air. Aft o’- some discussion Mr. Fraser moved formally that the debate should not be broadcast. The motion was carried without further Opposition dissent. Opening the debate, the Leader I of tile O,posit.on, Mr. Holland, said Hint as a result of the two days’ sitting in secret session he ! felt better to-day about the war than he had felt since Pearl Harhaour. He felt it was a pity that j every New Zealander could not I have been brought into the secret I session, but he urged the public to have confidence that their public men were fearlessly and honestly carrying out their duties. Our differences here are improvI ing. he said, and he was of the [opinion that the appointment of Gen- ! oral MacArthur had given greater confidence than prevailed for little time. Il would be a thousand pities if. however, we became too self-satisfied, he said, and he pointed out that it was the duty of the Opposition to urge the Government on to an even greater war effort. There was no such thing as “all that can be done has been done.” He was confident that with the help of our allies and the utilisation of our own full resources wc had the ability to defend ourselves. Unfortunately, he continued, they met as a divided Parliament. Members on his side of the Houmj since the outbreak of the war had urged the settling of political differences. It would give the people of Now Zealand a greater feeling of security if they put aside their difficulties and became a united camp. He also urged a maximum war effort, stating that many people suffered a sense of frustration because, although they i were anxious to help they were not. j able to do so. He also thought too : much secrecy was being observed and i this resulted in a certain amount of rumour-mongering. It w'as quite wise not to go on the air .sometimes, and to err on the sid<» of safety, but there had not been one word that had gone over the air that the Speaker would wish 10 retract. Nothing had exercised the minds of the people more than the unwillingness of the political parlies lo get together, and he urged •that the bes ; brains of lhe country should be utilised. If the Goverrment called on someone outside Parliament, lo contribute to their service, such action would have the undivided support of th? Opposition. If ho were in the road, ho said, he would be prepared to stand aside and make room for anybod” the Government thought had greater capacity. He assured th? Government, that 90 per c?nt. of the people were demanding a National Government, and bofor- next November the finest ion would have to b? I settled: If so. why not consider it now land gain th? strong h lo be obtained by amalgamation. Mr. Holland expressed the opinion that although New' Zealand had reason to bo very proud of its war effort he believed the country was capable of oven more, and h n advocated lhe overhaul of the Dominion’s 1 domestic expenditure. It was a • nhysioal impossibility to maintain liy- | ing standards and social standards tin I time of war. Ho considered there w-ere young men in reserved omplojI ment w here they ought not to be at present. He also asked if the Dominion’s spending newer was being wisely organised ano contended that the burden was not being fairly spread. He considered that there was no greater impediment in the way of the maximum war elfort. than 40-houi week, and be assorted that if the workers were given lhe opportunity of working extended hours at ordinary rates of pay they would jump at it as an opportunity of making a contribution to the war effort. Mr. Holland also drew attention to j the fact that there had been 158 illegal strikes, and the reason for that I was they had been handled weakly. The time had come when the GovernI ment simply must use a firm hand, i The Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, expressed doubts as to ' the need for or desirability of a National Governmet in New Zealand. H<* I said there was no need or demand for a coalition or National Government in Australia, where lhe political position was approximately lhe same as in Now Zealand. In Australia the people seemed 'to be satisfied with the form lof political collaboration they now , had. The War Cabinet had proved 1 very successful in the Dominion, and ; there was no real need for a National | Government. Mr. Sullivan, referring to Mr. Holland’s criticism of the level of domestic expenditure, said he would ask where the war effort was lagging ior lack of mouey spent upon it. If. as the Leader of the Opposition had demanded, domestic expenditure was to b n curtailed, in what direction could it be spent on lhe war? he asked.