UNITY ESSENTIAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 162, 8 June 1940, Page 9

UNITY ESSENTIAL.

MR HAMILTON SUMS UP. Moving the adjournment of the debate; the Leader of the Opposition (Hon. A. Hamilton), in the course of a statement, said that normally the Address-in-Reply debate would take its winding course over many days or weeks. These, however, -were not normal days and they would not hesitate not to take the normal course if that was best for the country. When the House, met next week circumstances would then determine what course must be taken. We could not afford to “dither” in the crisis, said Mr Hamilton, Nothing could be more clear than the messages recently issued by Mr Churchill and other leaders in Britain for us to stand together. In this country we must stand together as one people, and organise and work as one people to be able to justify the part we would have to play in the British Empire’s policy of no surrender. “This sitting of Parliament,” added Mr Hamilton, “has performed one of the great legislative acts of our history in passing an all-in emergency measure. We have been "assured by the Government that regulations implementing every phase of that all-in policy will come into effect immediately without any equivocation on any point. The people of the Dominion are 'in no mood for indefiniteness or delay. They demand frankness and action.

“On behalf of the Opposition I want to state this with crystal clarity—all-in means everything in or it means nothing at all. It also means nothing at all and would represent ‘dithering in a crisis’ if it. did not mean the immediate implementing and marshalling' of all our resources. Everything is required, not to-morrow or the next day. No one, not even the Government, can hang back a minute. COMPLETE AGREEMENT. .“We have.been assured that this Bill means that no one will be able to hold back whether it ho property, wealth or personal service. We desire that and agree wholeheartedly with its inspiration. The success of such an all-in measure depends bn its administration, which* must be fair, just, and demanding equal sacrifice. This is the hour for inspiring leadership through which our work and feelings may be absolutely united. In this crisis the lead must come from the Government and Parliament.

“All I can say is that the Opposition has proved its sincerity and its offer to be all-in with the war effort, with no qualifications or conditions concerned with domestic politics or partisanship, but all-in for the country. Our present disunited condition cannot be allowed to drag on without very serious effects to whatever effort we have to make.” Mr Hamilton continued that he knew the Prime Minister apreciated as he did the gravity of the situation. The welling-up of patriotic fervour reflected in meetings from one end of New Zealand to the other must not be misconstrued as merely a political agitation. It was a true banding together in the common cause. That fervour must receive united leadership. DEMAND FOR LEAD. “I feel the responsibilities of the Opposition and my part in it,” added Mr Hamilton. “The Opposition would not be worth its salt if it did not fight for what it believed to be the best interests of the country. From the Government must come an immediate decision and lead.” Two things were essential, he said, namely, unity and action. The House had become the great council of the Realm. If it could not receive the leadership necessary to achieve that end because of the selfishness and bitterness of human frailty, “then I say God help this part of the British Empire,” Mr Hamilton concluded. GOVERNMENT’S POLICY. In reply, Hon. P. Fraser said that with the general tenor of the remarks of the Leader of the Opposition there could be no quarrel or difference of opinion. Regarding prompt action and efficient administration there could be no difference of opinion whatever. The question was how to bring it about in the most effective way. The Government had made an offer to the Opposition which included but was not confined to the Opposition, because no one could suggest that the real national unity ended with the House. The Government’s suggestion had aimed at giving every section of the community a part in the war effort by setting up a representative War Council. The Opposition, in using its undoubted right to reject that proposal. had indicated that it had not found favour. The Leader of the Opposition and himself had discussed the matter on several occasions and the sum total of these discussions would be submitted to the two parties, but he could not imagine that unity began and ended with the House and consequently he earnestly asked that the Government’s proposal should be examined 'in common with every other proposal and that the matter should be decided during next week. Referring to Mr Hamilton’s comment on all-in legislation, Mr Fraser said it was obvious that if this legislation were not implemented but left on the Statute Book it would be nothing but a delusion and a sham. Consequently the' Government proposed, in conjunction with th© Opposition, and in. a manner commendable to both parties and in that way to the country, or just as the Government was at present, to rush forward the legislation as fast as was necessary. To say that it should be implemented m a day, to-morrow, or the next dav, was to say what was impossible of achieveniGtit. _ „„ The House rose at 5 p.m. until 7.60 p.m. on Wednesday. when the Address-in-Reply debate will he continued.