AN INVITATION TO MR. FRASER

Wanganui Chronicle, 13 December 1949, Page 4

AN INVITATION TO MR. FRASER

TOURING the last Parliament the “Chronicle” consistently advocated the inclusion of Mr. Holland in any delegation that went overseas to attend international conferences. The reason advanced in support of this suggestion-was that the political parties were practically even in strength and consequently it could be expected that there would be a change of Government in the near future. Further, foreign policy is not a matter for party polities, and in this department the two parties are in general agreement. Such a representation as was advocated in this column yould have provided continuity of policy and understanding in New Zealand. Unfortunately, Mr. Fraser was unable to extend the invitation to Mr. Holland, and the reasons for his inability need not now be gone into as they constitute water over the weir. Now that Mr. Holland has come to power in New Zealand the reasons which supported the proposal that he be included in a delegation going overseas are applicable a fortiori to Mr. Fraser being included in the delegation that is to go to Ceylon. Had there been members of the National Party in the delegations sent overseas by the previous Governments the same need for two-party representation would not be so great as it is today. Mr. Fraser has an intimate knowledge of the business which will be discussed' at the Ceylon Conference and it is very gratifying indeed to find that Mr. Holland has acted upon the “Chronicle’s” suggestion and extended an invitation to Mr. Fraser to join the delegation under the leadership of Mr. Doidge, which will attend the forthcoming conference.

It is to be hoped, for the sake of New Zealand, that Mr. Fraser will be able to accept the invitation. Should he be unable to do so, however, it should not be readily assumed that he has been inspired by inter-party rivalry to refuse the invitation. He has been in office for fourteen years, during the whole of which time he has been the actual head of the Government. Such a long period of concentrated endeavour takes toll of a man’s strength and when, to that strain on his vitality is added the recent strenuous campaign with its consequent disappointment, Mr. Fraser’s need for a rest should occasion no surprise. If it be possible for him to go to Ceylon, however, it is to be honed that non-personal considerations will not be a barrier to his going.