THE PRIME MINISTER GOES HOME AGAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 April 1949, Page 4

THE PRIME MINISTER GOES HOME AGAIN

I\/|R. HOLYOAKE appropriately expresses the well-wishing of his leader and his party to the Prime Minister on his second departure within six months for conference with representatives of the United Kingdom and the Dominions. It is regrettable, however, that a leader of a party who has retained office by the accident of being able to retain four Maori members’ support, but who cannot claim a majority of the pakelia population’s representation should again go Home just prior to a General Election without taking with him the Leader of the Opposition. The Prime Minister is the representative of New Zealand and as such he is entitled to first place as his title of Premier indicates, but there are other considerations to be taken into account. The British Commonwealth is at t'.ie crossroads, politically, militarily, economically. Important subjects will have to be discussed if the conference is to be as valuable as it should be. The decisions which New Zealand must make will bind the whole of the people and have reactions elsewhere in the world. It is desirable that such decisions should have as much permanence imported into them as it is possible to achieve. This could best be done by arriving at those decisions by continuous consultation with the Opposition. It is not so much a courtesy to Ihe Opposition party that should inspire this teamwork, but the fict that by so doing continuity of the national life would be assured. The possibility of the Opposition becoming the Government in November is a highly probable one and it cannot be overlooked at the present moment. Why should New Zealand be handicapped by the fact that Mr. Holland has been kept in the dark during these months of important conference? That is the point which t'ne Prime Minister unfortunately ignores.