Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1940. RECONSTITUTING THE GOVERNMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1940. RECONSTITUTING THE GOVERNMENT

JT is presumably Io be taken for granted that Mr ETaser will be continued in the office of Prime Minister, which meantime he occupies temporarily in succession to the late Mr Savage. Carrying to all intents an.d purposes the burdens of actual war leadership for months past, during the illness of the late Premier, Air Fraser has gained the confidence and approval of the country, besides retaining the support of his party. To that extent the outlook is clear. Any uncertainty the situation holds is due Io the indicated development within the Labour Party of a division between Left Wing and Right . Wing sections. In the interests of national unity, at a time when energies plainly should be concentrated’primarily and mainly on an effective war effort, if must be hoped that these divisions will as far as possible, be set aside. Exactly how far the Labour Party is capable of maintaining practical unity will, now be put to a practical test. The position was not made altogether clear at the Easter conference of the party. An apparent defeat was suffered there by the Left Wing of the party in the expulsion from membership of Air J. A. Lee, ALP., but against the fact that this expulsion was supported, by a substantial majority, it has to be set that it was opposed by a substantial minority—the voting being 546 to 344. At an immediate view, the attitude of the national conference of the party must be regarded as less important than that of the caucus of its Parliamentary members. Prior to an election, the party conference is in a position to exercise a decisive influence in determining the platform on which the election is to be fought. Once an election has been fought on a given platform and a mandate obtained, however, the Labour Party, like any other party, has an unqualified duty and responsibility to the electorate and is not entitled to allow anything to stand in the way of the due and faithful discharge of that duty and responsibility. Prospects of smooth-running efficiency in the conduct of the affairs of the Dominion in the immediate future no doubt must depend primarily upon the relationship Air Fraser, as leader, is able to establish with the rank, and file of his party in Parliament, The most essential condition, of leadership of course is an. ability to enlist and retain effective support. In practice, a Prime Minister usually finds it necessary to insist upon an unfettered discretion in the selection of his Ministerial colleagues. That discretion appears to have been accorded in effect to Air Savage and a good deal may depend upon its being accorded in turn to Air Fraser. The Labour Party plainly is in a position to carry on the government of Ihe country for the time being unless it allows weakening divisions to develop in its own ranks.