THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1943 PLEDGED TO UNITY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3276, 16 June 1943, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1943 PLEDGED TO UNITY

Mr Holland’s reiteration in the Budget debate of the pledge to form an all-party, national war-time Government should his party be successful at the polls is an interesting development in the political situation. Despite the steady and seemingly inevitable approach to a general election there is still ground for the belief that the majority of New Zealanders do not desire a plunge into the bickerings and disunity of an election campaign, especially when that campaign may coincide with the tensest phase of the whole war. That opinion was strengthened by the result of a recent carefully-prepared survey of public opinion in Auckland, showing that only 31 per cent, of those expressing an. opinion wanted an election. Fifty-four per cent, were in favour of a representative Cabinet, and that proportion would be increased were interest suddenly to be absorbed by critical fighting in Europe. • The Government’s counter to Mr Holland’s pledge was the taunt that it was his act following the Waikato coal strike that destroyed the War Administration. That is true, but only in part. Mr Holland could as easily declare that the Government destroyed the War Administration by failing to administer what was the law of the land. Nevertheless, the Wai-*, kato coal dispute is now past history and its shadow should not be so long as still to hinder efforts at a party compromise, which is favoured freely by Mr Holland and personally by Mr Fraser. If even in the event of the expected crisis in Europe the New Zealand general election has to take place one party at least will be pledged to an allparty government, a form of administration that should be the expression of New Zealand’s politcal unity while the war lasts.