EARLY IN JUNE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1940, Page 5

EARLY IN JUNE

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT OR BEFORE THAT TIME IF NECESSARY. STATEMENT BY PREMIER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. An announcement that it was proposed to arrange for Parliament to meet early in June was made by the Prime Minister. Mr. Fraser, in an interview last night when the statement by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Hamilton, on the function of Parliament in war time, (published yesterday). was referred to him. Mr. Fraser added that if any serious,situation arising from the war developed before that time Parliment would be convened immediately. "I have perused Mr. Hamilton’s statement and the quotations from Lord Strabolgi’s article with interest." said Mr. Fraser. "A good deal of the article is inapplicable to our New Zealand conditions. "It is proposed to arrange for Parliament to meet early in June. If any serious situation arising from the war developed before that time. Parliament would be convened immediately. At present, there is no such necessity. "In reference to the paragraphs in Lord Strabolgi’s article dealing with the arrangements the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers have made in regard to entering, into consultation with the Leader ot the Opposition." said Mr. Fraser. "I have to point out that similar steps were taken in this country at the outbreak of war. The Leader of the Opposition. the Hon. Mr. Hamilton, the Rt. Hon. Mr. Forbes and the Rt. Hon. Mr. Coates were invited into consultation with the Government. In addition, the cables relevant to the war were placed al. their disposal for perusal. "Such consultations can be renewed at any time, and the cables are still available for the Leader of the Opposition and his two colleagues.

"Members of boll) the Government party and the Opposition party have had frequent discussions with Ministers in regard to war matters." Mr. Fraser added, "and I am personally grateful for the assistance received from all sides of the House."