NATIONAL PARTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1939, Page 4

NATIONAL PARTY

CAUCUS IN WELLINGTON YESTERDAY CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT A ITITUDE. AS BEING INCOMPATIBLE WITH UNITY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. A caucus of the National Party members of Parliament was held in Parliament Buildings yesterday, lasting throughout the day, at which the Government’s recent legislation and administration were discussed. “Caucus fully realised the importance and responsibility of the Opposition at such a critical time as this,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton, in an interview after the caucus last night. "We have decided to hold a further caucus of the party in the first week in December.”

“Everywhere the seriousness of the political issues of the day is being realised, and the vigilance of the Opposition is more than ever necessary since advantage was taken by the Government, and is still being taken, to implement a policy of State Socialism under the very first cloak of war emergency,” said Mr Hamilton. “This advantage reveals a complete lack of appreciation of the necessity for unity in the country as a basis for the supreme war effort required. “The expression of opinion at caucus emphasised that the Opposition, representing a vast expression of opinion, has already pledged its wholehearted support of the Government in war work, and is giving that support. It will continue to support war work in spite of political difficulties. “Caucus was equally emphatic that the public should be aware that this in no way affects political activities by the party, which, following the lead given in this by the Labour Party, will continue. There has been some confusion about this latter point. One of the first things that the Government did after the outbreak of war was to urge, through its official organ, the maintenance of political activity at full pressure. “The unprecedented use of the radio —national and commercial stations — for political propaganda and purely party advancement, is one phase, of which everyone must be aware today.”