NATIONAL UNITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 162, 8 June 1940, Page 6

NATIONAL UNITY

FOR COMMON CAUSE. LEADERS in AGREEMENT. . Telegraph—Special to_ Standard.) (- J “ WELLINGTON, June 8. Prospects of a AVar Cabinet as d.stinct from a'AVar Council which would have representatives from outside Parliament did not appear to be advanced through an exchange'of opinions Between the Leader of the Oppomns between l Hamilton) an d the Prime Minister (Hon. P. Fraser) just before the adjournment of the. House of Representatives late yesterday afte - “The motion todend the sitting was moved bv Mr Hamilton, who took the opportunity of setting -out in full .the position ,of the Opposition in relation to the war policy of New Zealand. He was listened to but Labour members laughed when he declared' that the welling up of patriotic fervour reflected in meetings from o e end of New Zealand to the other must not he misconstrued as merely polititrue banding together in a common cause,” sank Mr Hamilton, * 1 with a desire to work regardless o party and, consequently, it is inspired by ‘love of-country, love of home, and love of all the traditions which we rightly cherish.” > For the Opposition Mr Hamilton said that : “All in. means everything, or it means nothing at all. It also means nothing at all and would represent dithering in a cnsis it i did not mean the immediate implementing and marshalling of all our resources. Everything is .require , now—not: to-morrow or the next day. No one, even the Government, can hang hack.” PREMIER’S VIEWS. There was",.no difference, of opinion whatever about the necessity for national unity, prompt action, and efficient administration, replied the Prime Minister, who pointed out that the Government s offer was not confined to the Opposition, “because,” lie continued, “we do not imagine' for. a moment that national unity begins and ends with, this House. . ,

“Consequently, to give tlie various interests in the country which are anxiously interested in the present situation a full opportunity t° participate in the work of the war effort the Government announced its intention to set up a AA 7 ar Council. The Opposition, using its inherent right to examine and, discuss any proposals, has indicated that this does not find favour with it. The Leader of the Opposition and myself have discussed the matter . repeatedly during the last few days and the sum total of these discussions will be submitted to the respective parties. Mr Fraser repeated that national unity did not begin and end with, the House; therefore, he asked that the Government’s proposal, together with any others regarded as effective and practicable, should be examined, and the matter decided during the course of next week.

AVAR CABINET OPPOSED. The Government member for Alotueka (Air C. F. Skinner), who seconded the motion for the Address-in-Re-ply, and spoke as a private soldier dressed in battle uniform, was frankly critical of any AA’ar Cabinet. He ridiculed public agitation in its favour as a newspaper campaign without precedent in tlie country’s history, and commented on the large number of anonymous letters published. Unfortunately, many people had become apprehensive regarding events .overseas, and in his opinion the newspapers had not assisted to allay that feeling. . ' “In a rough analysis of the meetings and the letters,” added Air Skinner, “you will find that 43 per cent, of these meetings and letters demanded a National - Government, 33 per cent, demanded conscription, and 40 per cent, attacked the 40-hour week, the wageearners, and social security. AA’hat do these people really want I think many of the organisers have had ulterior motives. It is not to help our war effort, but because they want to upset many things which this Government has brought about.” He asked if a Coalition Government could get any more sheet iron into the country, more military equipment, or make the military instructors more efficient. Could, it get more co-opera-tion’from the workers than they were giving at present to the Government? \. Finally he suggested that there was.no analogy between' New Zealand and the political position which led to the formation of a National Government in England because the English Government found it had lost, the confidence of many of its loyal supporters. Mr S. G. Holland (National," Christchurch North) : Have you not lost a couple, too ? Air Skinner: Yes, unfortunately, but not on the war issue.