GOVERNMENT BY REMOTE CONTROL

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 March 1947, Page 4

GOVERNMENT BY REMOTE CONTROL

EXPERIMENTS in the control of pilotless planes in flight, guided merely by radio beam, have proved satisfactory. The Germans showed that to some degree it was possible to guide rocket-bombs directed across the North Sea to Great, Britain. Now the Government of New Zealand is showing the people how they can be governed, in part at least, by remote control. Yesterday, it was earlier announced, a Cabinet meeting was to have further discussions on the power shortage and means whereby the situation could be met. But the Prime Minister, Mr- Fraser, is engaged on a tour of districts represented by the Maori members of Parliament, four of whom appear to hold the balance of power between the Government and the Opposition. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, is overseas, engaged on more important business than a power crisis. He is probably expected to provide the balance between the great Powers on the other side of the world. The Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, has arrived in Japan to inspect the New Zealand members of the J-Force. It would not be surprising to learn that the New Zealand troops had suddenly found themselves better catered for and provided with more blankets on the announcement of the impending visit. And the Minister of Works, on whose department rests some measure of responsibility for the power shortage, was on a visit to the West Coast on Tuesday, as was disclosed when a telephone interview was sought, by an Auckland paper. , It is refreshing to find such confidence reposed in the remaining members of Cabinet. Or do they maintain contact with their colleagues by long-distance telephone, thus retaining the elements of remote control?