OUR PART IN WAR

Evening Star, Issue 23370, 13 September 1939, Page 3

OUR PART IN WAR

COUNTRY GALLING FOR LEAD OPPOSITION ALLEGES DELAY ACTING PREMIER PROMISES STATEMENT FRIDAY [From Ouk Parliamentary Reporter.] ' WELLINGTON, September 12. “The county is calling for a lead, declared the Leader of the Opposition in the House, when on behalf of his party he pressed the Government to at once disclose its plans for the prosecution of New Zealand’s part in the war. Mr ' Hamilton suggested that the country was getting a little restive over the Government’s slowness in this matter. He offered to agree to another week’s adjournment of Parliament if this would accelerate the decisions. . The reply of the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, was that another adjournment would not help the position, but if the House went on with general business this week he could promise that by .Friday an explanation would be made of the full measure of the obligations which would be taken up by New Zealand, and the Government's intentions in respect of the financing of the provision which ought to be made. These explanations followed an exchange of opinions between the leaders of the two parties. It was opened by Mr Fraser, who stated that the Government was not yet in a position to bring-down its proposals, but hoped and intended to do so by Friday. At that time the Government would be in the position, unless something unforeseen happened, to inform the House and the country of the obligations it would undertake to the United Kingdom in the conduct of the war. In the meantime he suggested that there were many measures, most of them of minor importance, which could be dealt with. It had at first been suggested by the Government that the Public Works Estimates might be taken that evening, though it was not usual that this should be done on the day of the presentation of the Statement, but he had been informed by the Leader of the Opposition that his party had some doubts regarding this course. They considered it advisable that the whole question of war finance should first be decided. Therefore, consideration of these estimates would bo delayed until Wednesday.

“ The fact that the Estimates, whether main, supplementary, or Public Works, have been passed,” continued Mr Fraser, " will not bind the Government in this state of emergency to expend all funds, but a certain amount of commitment has already been made. It is proposed to proceed with these estimates.”

While he did not think there was ■ anything , controversial in the minor Bills. Mr Fraser said that, of course, ho could not promise that the important measures which the Government would bring down would be completely ~ non-cpntroversial. There might be dif- , fe'rences on matters of finance. “ I do . not expect the Opposition to stifle their criticism,” added Mr Fraser. The • Government and the Opposition may have honest differences or opinion, but . this will in no way lessen the desire of all of, us to do our duty. (Hear, . hear.) In that spirit, I hope the dismissions and criticisms will be carried on. but I do not think that, even in this hour, anybody should be expected to sink his conscientious opinions, ai- ; ’though this is not a time for prolonged controversy.” The Transport Bill was mentioned by Mr Fraser, who said he had hoped some arrangement could have been made, but he regretted that this had not been practicable. If the Minister in charge desired the measure to go forward, he hoped the controversy would be conducted in a fair and frank manner. I think we were within our rights in expecting the Leader of the House to have made a fuller and more complete statement.” commented the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Hamilton). The Government, he pointed out, had enjoyed a week’s grace to plan its course of action for the conduct of the war. An extreme emergency had certainly arisen since the session began, but it was reasonable to have expected that the Government’s plans would now be completed for conducting the war and financing its proposals. The Opposition had readily extended its co-operation to assist the Government, but it was entitled to ask that this co-operation should bo reciprocated. “ We do not wish to embarrass the. Government,” continued Mr Hamilton, “ but we do demand to be taken into its full confidence, that anv co-opera-tion we offer shall be fully reciprocated. The country is calling for a lead. Other countries have moved into position pretty quickly.” Mr Fraser: I thought we were about the quickest. „,, , „ , ~ , Mr Hamilton : I think I shall be right in saying that there is uneasiness in the public mind in regard to the slowness of action and lack of information regarding the Government’s line of action. ' .... , Tim Acting Prime Minister interposed with the suggestion that critical aspects

be deferred till a later stage. If the Leader of the Opposition pursued his line of thought, then he in turn would have to show what had been done by New Zealand compared with other countries.

Mr Speaker remarked that, without wishing to restrict the Leader of the Opposition, he would point out that the rules of the House precluded the raising of controversial points on a statement made with the leave of the House.

“ It would be difficult for me to say what I wanted without appearing controversial,” replied Mr Hamilton. If the Government was not fully ready, he added, he would have no objection to offering a further adjournment to give it time. (National ‘Hear, hears.’) He was glad the Government had agreed to the postponement of the discussion on the Works Estimates, which asked for £15,000,000 when there would bo further financial proposals in respect to the war.

Mr Fraser thanked tlie Opposition for its offer, but assured them that an adjournment would not assist the Government. “ Matters are at such a point in regard to the country’s obligations,” ho added, “ that provided certain information is to hand, filans can be completed without encroaching one moment on the time of the House.”

Mr Fraser explained that the Leader of the Opposition, and his colleagues, the members for Hurnnui and Kaipara, as former Prime Ministers and members of the Privy Council, had been given full access to the Imperial Government's communications. If the country was uneasy, as alleged, this was unavoidable, but the best way to help to steady the people’s nerves, he concluded, was for Parliament to show an example by getting on with its work.