WAR CABINET

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 170, 7 June 1940, Page 5

WAR CABINET

FORMATION URGED BOROUGH AND COUNTY OPINION RESOLUTION GOES FORWARD "This representative meeting of citizens of Whakatane Borough and County realising as we do the urgency of this country throwing the whole of its resources into the war effort, and appreciating to the full the jus iification for "all in" War Emer . gency legislation, urges the Prime Minister and Cabinet to form without delay a National War Cabinet fully representative of ali sections of our people. It is our considered view that only by this step can full co-operation and united effort be obtained." This was the resolution carried unanimously at the public meeting converted "'by His Worship the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, and the County Chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, and held in the Grand Theatre last evening. Though the theatre was not over-crowded, the attendance was representative of the County and Borough and all speakers were of one accord, stressing the necessity for the formation of a National War Cabinet. Mr Barry was the first speaker .•and he said that the meeting had been called in response to the many representations made from all parts of tlie County and Borough, It wa.v • entirely without political significance, .he said, and was not held under any .party auspices. It was to give residents an opportunity 1 to express in public their opinions ol New Zealand's war effort and the way in which that effort was being -carried out. At War as New Zpalanders. "My own view," said Mr Barry, "is that the present is the time for .a National Government. We are at war as New Zealanders, not as Laborfr Party or National Party members, and it is up to us to work for the ultimate victory of the British Empire." (Applause). The •only way in which this could be done, said His Worship, was by working together and using the bes'. brain-power in the. country.

"In appointments to Army commands political leanings don't count," continued Mr Barry. "It is therefore recognised by the military authorities—and, I presume, by the Minister of Defence—that experience and ability count. But we have men in command of Home affairs and should we not just ;as equally have the best brain-power in those positions?" The Cart Before the Horse. Mr Barry referred to recent legislation and tlic wide powers held by the Government. If the legislation affected all classes, should there not be wider representation In the administration? The spdaker pointed out that the National War 'Cabinet in Britain had been formed before wider powers under emer gency legislation had been taken. v "Not until the Cabinet was directly representative of all sections were the new laws introduced," he said, and added, "In New Zealand the cart has been put before the horse." The question of'"' sacrifices brought up the question of conscription, said! Mi" Barry, and 1 conscription me«Lnt not only fighting men, but labour and wealth. The speaker referred to the perilous position in which Britain was placed and said that should) Britain fall New Zealand would! be the prey of covetous nations. Now was the time for sacrifices .and effort. Support for the New Zealand For--ces already overseas could only be given effectively if the Government had full control of all the resources of the country. The third aspect was the enemy within. They should l>e put down with the utmost 'rigour-. : r "In this hour of crisis we should I>e prepared to get. together,*' concluded ,Mr Barry. We <; be prepared, to \take our share of the burden which }ias falleih on- the British Empire.'*

War Hysteria* ' • .1 In his opening remarks Mr J. L. Burnett, County Chairman.' paid a tribute to the British Expeditionary Force. These men, said Mr Burnett, had carried out a manoeuvre which was one of the greatest known to military science. Mr Burnett emphasised that no political significance attached to the meeting. To-day the Britisn Empire was bound in a Life and Death struggle and all must bow to the grim task. The speaker referred then, as had Mr Barry, to legislation passed recently in New Zealand. "If an 'all-in' policy is right for this country," he said, "all we ask if that full representation be granted in the control." Mr Burnett deplored the war hysteria which unfortunately seemed to be prevalent. There was a gloom and despondency about. It should be realised that one of the best weapons in Hitler's hands was the propaganda machine. Weakness in Democratic System. Mr lan Gow said he understood that the meeting had been called to voice any dissatisfaction .there might be in regard to New Zealand's war effort and it was necessary to be specific. Some members of the Labour Party say 'With what do you find fault?', and the answering of that was something of a problem. The democratic system, said Mr Gow, allowed a good deal of freedom but there were weaknesses, as had been proved. One of them was the lack of a singleness of purpose. There was no truth in the phrase 'a volunteer is as good as ten pressed men,' Mr Gow continued, and he was sorry that conscription had not been introduced. He concluded: "I would ask that we impress upon the Government the necessity of constituting a Government representative of all sections' of the community." "Government Having a Nap." "The Government, perhaps, is not awake," observed the Rev. J. Pattison. They were loyal citizens who were agitating for the formation of a National War Cabinet. "The Government has got both eyes open now. It went into a sort of nap and was somewhat drowsy for eight months." The Rev. Pattison then dealt with Hitler and Christianity. A victory for the Nazis, he said, would throw civilisation back to the Middle Ages. It would be a return to the deification of the Roman Empire and the persecution of the Christian Church. "Everything worthwhile, every thing worth living for, is at stake," said the Rev. Pattison. "All the elements of Christ's . teachings . . . the very Kingdom of God, is threatened.

The War Council. Dealing with the war effort the speaker said that the Government had brought in conscription, but it was rather late. The measure had been introduced in response to agitation by the public. Only 27.000 men had been accepted as medically fit in the eight months since the first call for volunteers, yet New Zealand's supply of man-power had not been tapped. The people were looking for a Government to lead. "For a Government that will wake us up instead of us waking the Government," said, the Rev. Pattison, who continued, "Look at all the man-power in Whakatane that could be utilised. Think of the reserves throughout the country. ,1 ' "The suggestion of forming a War Council is not a very wise one, as 1 see it. They may get together, the members of the Council, and discuss matters, but they may be some time in reaching a decision. Then again, is this Council to be only an advisory body?" The War Cabinet in Britain, said the Rev. Pattison, was more representative, more efficient, and more satisfactory than its predecessor. That was .what was required in this country- "Why doesn't the Labour Party open >the doors to the leaders of the National Party. They may not be perfect—but they are capable. ,. On the Home Front. The opinion was expressed by Mrs Hayward that it might be preferable to 'clean up' in Whakatane before embarking on a national movement. There were subversive •elements-in Ihe town, she said, and and Pacifists alike should go by the board. A resolution carried at the meeting of the Rangitaiki Branch- of

the Ncav Zealand Farmers' Union on Wednesday night was read by Mr G. Wilson, and this, on the lines of that unanimously approved by the meeting, urged the immediate formation of a National War Cabinet.

Unity is Strength. In proposing the resolution quoted at the beginning of tfiis report, Mr W. A. McCracken said that the necessity of uniting the people of New Zealand in one camp was extremely urgent. There was no better starting point than the formation of a War Cabinet. The resolution was seconded by Mr J. Moody and all those in the Theatre spoke as one in. answer to. the Mayor when he asked for affirmative voices;. The resolution will be forwarded to the Prime Minister.