WAR CABINET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 114, 18 May 1942, Page 4

WAR CABINET

Oh NATIONAL BAS ; S N.Z.R.S.A. PROPOSALS PLACED BEFORE PREMIER AND OPPOSITION (P.A.) Wellington, Al;iy .16 The establishment of a National War Cabinet with full executive powers and including in its personnel men from outside I’arlia menl, was one of the proposal placed before the Prime Minis ter (Air. Eraser) to-day by a depu tation comprising members of tin Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Sirvices’ -V social ion. The deputation was headed by th* president of the N.Z.R.S.A., the Hoi. W. Perry, M.L.C., who slated that tin national executive of the Labou Party and the Parliamentary caucu of that party agreed with the principle of the establishment of such ; Cabinet. The executive of the National Party and the Leader of th Opposition (Mr. Holland), however, while agreeing that it was desirabb to bring about political unity, wen of the opinion that the proposals wen not practicable or calculated to achieve the end desired, and wen convinced that the only way to mee. lhe position was by the formation o a National Non-party Government. In his reply, Mr. Fraser said he could speak for a united Labour movement, which saw in the proposals great prospects of achieving that unity in the country’s war effort that they all deemed so absolutely essential. There were certain difficulties, but he did no! think they were insuperable. .Mr. Fraser assured the deputation that he ’ would take an early opportunity of ' approaching the Leader of the I Opposition and discussing the ' manifesto with him with a view to achieving as much unity as possible. Mr. Fraser said that he would again invite Mr. Holland lo join the War Cabinet. Five Proposals Made “For a considerable time past,” said Mr. Perry, “my association has been convinced that there has not been that unity amongst the people of New Zealand which is essential to the prosecution of a total war effort. This matter was discussed at a Dominion council meeting held in May, 1941, which decided that the Dominion executive committee should set up a special win-the-war committee with a view to bringing down concrete proposals as to how best wc could assist in this direction. “In view of the gravity of the war situation in the Pacific the N.Z.R.S.A. calls upon the Government and the people of New Zealand for a total war effort for the sole purpose of destroying the enemy, defending NewZealand, and assisting the Allied cause. There is only one way to meet total war, and that is by total war eeffort—effort not merely for a day, or a week, or a month, but every day until victory is won. To the N.Z.’R.S.A. any other outcome of the present struggle is unthinkable. “To achieve total effort, lhe N.Z R.S.A. calls upon the Government Parliament and the people of New Zealand to bring about: "1. T'he reorganisation an. strengthening of inc personnel oi tne present viar Gauiiict on a uuij national basis with me mc.usiun I men from outside lariiamem, mu? creating a National War uan.nci with iu.'l executive powers to pro ,c cute a total war efiort in New Zealand. "Z. lhe elimination of party recriminations for the miration of the war, both inside and outside Parliament. "3. The complete and scientilk mooilisation of ali our resourcee spiritual, intellectual, nnancial, agricultural, and industrial—in Mien a manner that New Zealand snail bt organised to produce essential t 00... and munitions, enabling her to wage war lo her maximum capacity. “1 The utilisation of the service' of all men and women to the fuli cst degree, according to age, (rain ing, physical capacity, and ability of the individual. . “5. The maintenance of our armcii forces at the maximum strength consistent only with essential primary and industrial requirements. Resignation of Present War Cabinet. “Further to No. 1,” continued Mr Perry, “I have to say that in our view this involves the resignation of the present War Cabinet so that the reconstituted War Cabinet can be set up on the basis we suggest. We think that the only effective way to soled this War Cabinet is for you, as Prime Minister of New Zealand, to do so unfettered by party political considerations and on a truly national basis and by full executive powers wc mean absolute powers to carry on lhe w aland if these cannot be given by regulation then Parliament should 'be called together to give them. “The national executive of the Labour Party and the Parliamentary caucus of the Labour Party are ir agreement, with the principle set forth that is. the formation of a National War Cabinet with full executive powers as set out in our manifesto The exe: utive of the National Party and the Leader of the Opposition an convinced that the only method ol achieving this end is the formation o! a National Non-party Government. “My association feels, however, that the difficulties foreseen by the National Party might be removed if you and the Leader of the Onposilior could meet in conference. We urge therefore, that you invite the Leadei of the Opposition to confer with you in an endeavour to arrive at an agreement.” Mr. Fraser’s Reply. Mr. Fraser said he was not going 1c minimise the difficulties that woulc arise in the way of implementing the proposals. A constitutional questior that would have to be examffied very close- he did not think it insuperable —was that of asking persons who were not •members of the Legislature tr join the War Cabinet. It had beer done in Great. Britain. In some case. 4 men had resigned to make way foi new men. That was easier in the case of the of Commons, with 600 oi 700 members, than in New Zealand but there was the Legislative Council and if necessary members could bf appointed there. He could see no seri ous objection to utilising the service* ancl abilities of men of outstanding capacity in the way indicated, provid ing their services were for the perioc of the war and the war effort. Referring to the replies given by the national executive of the National Party and the Leader of Ihe Opno-i--tion, he sincerely hoped they wodld not be final. “One-sided,” Says Mr. Holland. A Press Association messages frorr Christchurch ouotes Mr. S. G. Holland. Leader of the Onnosition. as describing the proposals as “utterly one-sided.” “Mr. Fraser and I have discussed this matter on many occasions and we each have a full understanding

of the other’s point of view,” said Mr. Holland. “I am convinced th it if Mr. Fraser and I could meet with complete and absolute authority to reach finality on this matter, without reference to anyone else, we could find a solution of the problem in ten minutes. Details, of course, would take longer to work out.”