FUSION UNLIKELY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 4 September 1939, Page 4

FUSION UNLIKELY

CABINET TO CARRY ON POLITICAL FORECASTS AID FROM INSIDE PARTY OPPOSITION RESTRAINT (Pnr Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. No political developments are likely in New Zealand, as a result of the outbreak of war. This subject has been under discussion among members of the House of Representatives for several days, and the belief in Opposition circles is that the Cabinet will carry on its heavy tasks without the necessity ot a call for assistance from outside the ranks of the Labour Party, and that if there is to be any strengthening of* the Cabinet, this will be done from within the party. At a very early stage, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, made clear the desire ot his party to fully support the Government in any necessary measures required. The Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, at that time was already immersed in heavy responsibilities associated with the state of emergency.

Opposition members gave a very practical indication of their desire to help by passing many classes of the Estimates under Mr. Fraser’s control with a minimum of discussion, some classes which normally would have taken several hours being put through their committee and supply stages in a few minutes. Mr. Hamilton Informed of Events

The Leader of the Opposition, after consultation with the. Acting Prime Minister, cancelled a week-end visit to Christchurch just over a week ago. He was available for consultation during this weelc-end, and information of importance regarding developments overseas has been made available to Mr. Hamilton through the Prime Minister's Department. Party politics thus have fallen completely into the background, and the business of the House will be greatly accelerated, with the assistance of the National Party. Nearly four years of administrative experience have given Ministers a good grip of affairs, and the building up of a national security organisation under the direction of the Cabinet lias made Ministers thoroughly familiar with the problems likely to arise under the present circumstances. The recent Pacific Defence Conference, held in Wellington with representatives of the British Government and Australia present, enabled the defence position to be clarified to the last practical detail. Therefore the Acting Prime Minister was using no mere figure of speech when he affirmed to-day that New Zealand is well prepared.