WIDER WAR CABINET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 115, 19 May 1942, Page 4

WIDER WAR CABINET

MR. HOLLAND ON R.S.A. SCHEME “UTTERLY ONE-SIDED" (P.A.) Christchurch. May 17. Describing the proposals of the Dombi ion executive of the Returned Services’ Association a* “utterly one-sided,” the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, said to-Jay that he did not think the public, would be satisfied with any rearrangement that did not provide for a major reallocation of Ministerial portfolios and responsibilities. “No one questions the motives of the Dominion executive of tne R.S.A. in its desire fur national unity,’' said Mr. Holland, “but it is proper to point out that there can be no real unity , unless the basis of unified adm.uistration is absolutely lair and just. Halfway houses ana patched-up stopgaps are next to useless." There was much mort* involved in the proposals of tne R.S.A. than appeared on the surface, and it was important that the public should Know what it was that the National Party turned down. He also wished to point out that, when he received a deputation from the R.S.A. he promised to put his reply in writing. He did that a week ago, setting out not only the National Party's decision, but also the reasons for that decision. He noticed that, whereas the Prime Minister’s reply received more than a column of newspaper publicity and his reasons were fully set out. Mr. Holland's reply was dismissed with two lines. Proposals rejected by the National Party, said Mr. Holland, were:- - 1. The present War Cabinet to resign, but three Labour members of it (Messrs. Fraser, Sullivan and Jones) to retain their present Ministerial portfolios. 2. The National Parly was asked to agree to the Prime Minister being given a blank cheque to choose a new War Cabinet consisting of anyone he might select, regardless of whether they belonged to Parliament or not. 3. Neither the Opposition Leader nor the National Party to have any say in the selection of the new VTar Cabinet and t he Opposition not necessarily to nave any representation in it. They were asked to agree to it without even knowing who were to be the members. If the Opposition received any representation in the new War Cabinet, Mr. Fraser was to be the sole selector. 4. All the present Labour Ministers were to be free to retain their present. portfolios, even if a new War Cabinet was set. up. Easter Conference Decision “It is little wonder that the national executive of the Labour Party and also the Parliamentary Labour Party accepted these utterly onesided proposals with such keen enthusiasm,” commented Mr. Holland. “I have repeatedly stated the National Party's attitude to this question, and the Prime Minister has also expressed himself in favour of political unity, but the Labour Party’s Easter Conference decided not to have anything to do with a National Government or to back up the Prime i Minister. On the contrary, it gave orders to prepare immediately for a | General Election. “Mr. Fraser and I have discussed this matter on many occasions, and i we each have a full understanding ol the other's point of view. 1 am convinced chat if Mr. Fraser and I could meet with complete (Ind absolute authority to reach finality on this matter, without reference to anyone else, we could find a solution of the problem in 10 minutes. The details, of course, would take longer to work ! out.” 1 The appointment of some outsiders ' to lull Ministerial and War Cabinet ! rank over the heads of those who had ' been elected constitutionally by the ] people to govern opened the door to ‘ some grave consequences, said Mr. • Holland, and necessitated an immense ( amount of consideration before the 1 present Constitution was thrown 1 overboard. “We have already had far too much 1 domination of Parliament by outside 1 interests to want it extended,” he said. Another Story There was unquestionably a need for co-option of persons outside Parliament possessing special qualifications for important tasks, to take a hand in the administration of national affairs, so as to increase efficiency greatly and to prevent waste and overlapping, but to have Cabinet Ministers who were not. responsible to the people, or who had not been elected to Parliament, was another story altogether. Who could say that under the R.S.A. proposals Messrs. James • Roberts, Angus McLaglan, F. P. Walsh, and Arthur Cook, and the Hons. R. Eddy and F. G. Young might not be the selected six for tne War Cabinet? To use the Legislative < Council to get over the constitutional questions involved would, he was sure, not find any considerable public support. “I am always ready to discuss this matter with the Prime Minister at any time.” continued Mr. Holland. ; “Indeed, we had a private talk on this very question last Monday before ! I left. Wellington. It would help tremendously it we were both /Die to meet and discuss this most important and vital question freed by our respective parties from all ties and conditions, and fully authorised to reach finality in the best interests of New Zealand, without reference to anyone else, or without consideration of party advantage. “If .Mr. Fraser is able to meet me on such a basis, i think i can make i similar arrangement. The Prime ilinister and the Parliamentary Labour Party are numerically strong j nough to put the R.S.A. proposal 1 , into operation if they wish to do so, but, in my opinion, tl.ere can be ( no unity unless and until the two political parties are prepared to come together in a true spirit of co-operation and with no consideration of party advantage.”