DEFINITION SOUGHT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20093, 13 November 1939, Page 11

DEFINITION SOUGHT

CO-OPERATION OFFER

PARTY POLITICAL TRUCE

OPPOSITION CRITICISM

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day

“The word ‘co-operation,’ in its true meaning is one of the finest in our language, a word which is one of the very sheet anchors of democracy, is becoming sadly debased through the

actions of some Opposition members of Parliament,” said the Minister oi Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, to-day.

Through its leader in Parliament, the Opposition had promised co-opera-tion with the Government in the country's war effort. There was no doubling the sincerity of that promise

at tire time if was given. It was made in a generous spirit and so accepted by the Government. What was more, the Government party acted upon it. Every Government member or Parliament. received a letter directing that political organisations should be suspended and party political meetings discontinued as a party truce, in eflect, had been declared.

A like instruction might, have been issued in the_ name of the National Parly, but if so it certainly is no! being obeyed.

On the Opposition side of the House co-operation appeared to mean a redoubling of party activity in the constituencies. How otherwise could anyone explain the recent series of meetings in the North Island centres. The time was ripe lor a definition of terms and declarations of intentions. Did the Opposition really intend tc co-operate with the Government in the wai effort or to hinder both the Government and the war effort? If it still maintained the intention to cooperate exactly what did it mean by the word?