ALWAYS WILLING

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21531, 20 September 1941, Page 8

ALWAYS WILLING

OPPOSITION ATTITUDE NON-PARTY GOVERNMENT ELECTION PLEDGE RE-AFFIRMED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday A written statement setting out the Opposition's efforts to form a National Government and its determination to form such a Government in the event of the National Party winning the elections, was read by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, to a similar deputation organised by the People’s Movement to that which waited upon the Prime Minister and Mr Nash this morning. Mr Neill McDougall, of Wellington, who headed the deputation, said they realised Mr Holland had done a great deal to bring about unity and did not think the door had been closed, even at this eleventh hour. Mr Holland said he was impressed by the motives which had caused the deputation, and he was glad to know that the attitude of the Parliamentary Opposition in constantly advocating a National Government met with the widespread support indicated by the deputation. His colleagues and he shared the view that an election at this time was undesirable if i: could be avoided. The greatest factor in successful British resistance was the courage and unity of the people, Mr Holland continued. In New Zealand, our security was wrapped up with the security of Britain and the Empire, and here, too, it was most important that our war effort should not be weakened by party differences. Realising this, the National Party consistently advocated dropping party politics and the establishmtnt of a united political front. Willingness All Along The Opposition had urged the Government to follow Britain’s example by the formation of. a truly non-party Government, said Mr Holland. All along they had been willing to sink their differences, drop party politics and join in the formation of a National Government. The only condition had been that the Government Party should do likewise and drop party politics and controversial domestic legislation for the duration of the war.

Without such reciprocity on the Government’s part, it would seem an election was unavoidable. Even now it was not too late for the Prime. Minister to profit by his observations in Britain and give to the people of New Zealand in this crisis the lead they were awaiting. The non-forma-tion of a National Government in the last two years was the responsibility of the Government, and the decision as to whether there was an election or not was also the Government’s responsibility. If the Government decided an election should be held, he could do no more than reaffirm the pledge of the Opposition, fully supported by the National Party, that if they were returned to power an invitation would immediately be extended to the other parties to join in the formation of a truly non-party Government, to hold office for the duration of the war. “I repeat this as an earnest of our sincerity,” Mr Holland concluded. REMAINING BUSINESS END OF SESSION UNCERTAIN WELLINGTON, Friday Replying to an inquiry in the House of Representatives by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, indicated the remaining business of the session. Mr Nash said the Standards Bill would be proceeded with when the House resumed next Tuesday afternoon. Other measures to appear were the Rehabilitation Bill, the Land and Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, the War Damages Bill, the Coalmines Amendment Bill (a technical measure), the Local Legislation Bill, the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill, the Statutes Amendment Bill, another Finance Bill and the Native Purposes Bill. In addition there might be one or two other small measures and there were also the Supplementary Estimates to be considered. In reply to another question about an Imprest Supply Bill, Mr Nash said that supply had been taken to the end of October, so presumably the session would end before then. In an interview Mr Nash said the Social Security Amendment Bill was second on the order paper after the Standards Bill.