WAR COUNCIL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1940, Page 5

WAR COUNCIL

INCLUDING MEMBERS OF OPPOSITION

AND REPRESENTATIVES OF INDUSTRY ANNOUNCEMENT BY PRIME M,NIS WNEW BODY TCTTbE SET UP IMMEDIATELY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The immediate establishment of a War Council to take charge of war activities was announced by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser in an address last night. The Council is to consist of Cabinet Ministers associated with the war effort, representatives of the Opposition, industrial employees, trade unions and farmers.

Mr Fraser made his announcement by reading a letter he was sending that night to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton in reply to a suggestion by Mr Hamilton that a National Government should be formed in New Zealand in view of the gravity of the war situation and the necessity for a united people. Mr Fraser said that on Friday he had been approached by Mr Hamilton and by the Rt Hon J. G. Coates, M.P. for Kaipara. The approach was made in a friendly spirit, and that friendliness was fully reciprocated. The approach embodied a tentative suggestion for the formation of a national Government. The matter was discussed with members of the Government and members of the Parliamentary Labour Party, and he was sending his reply to Mr Hamilton that night.

On Saturday afternoon a statement was issued by Mr Hamilton stating that he had approached the Prime Minister the previous day and urged upon him the desirability of forming a national Government. He said that maximum effort demanded unification of control in the country's deliberations.

Mr Fraser’s reply to Mr Hamilton is as follows: —

“With regard to the discussions on Friday last between yourself, the Right Hon J. G. Coates, M.P., the Minister of Defence and myself, the Government recognises that the present conditions in Western Europe which have developed with such unforeseen rapidity are of extreme gravity to the British Commonwealth.

“The Government has consistently, without qualification, made every possible contribution to the war effort, and again affirms that nothing that can be done to help Britain must be left undone. To still further ensure this, the Government proposes to set up at once a representative War Council to take charge of war activities. “It is proposed that the members of the War Council shall consist of Cabnet Ministers associated with the war effort, representatives of the Opposition, industrial employers, trade unions and farmers.

“Powers necessary to keep the Dominion’s war effort at its maximum will be given to the War Council. “As occasions demand, joint sessions of the Cabinet and the War Council will be held. “The Government has decided to introduce measures providing for the whole resources of the Dominion being made available, as when and where required, for the prosecution of the war.

“The Government fully appreciates the necessity for united effort, and that the objective over everything else must be the defence of the Dominion and complete co-operation with Britain to carry on the war. If any additional steps are necessary they will be taken.” NATIONAL CABINET URGED BY OPPOSITION. STATEMENT BY MR HAMILTON. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “The time has now arrived when I can tell New Zealand the steps the Opposition has taken during the recent crisis,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton, in a statement, issued on Saturday afternoon. “I waited upon the Prime Minister on Friday afternoon by appointment made on the previous day. Because of the gravity of the war situation and the growing expression of great uneasiness in the minds of people of all ranks throughout New Zealand, I deemed it wiS'e to tell the Prime Minister’ that in this emergency he should from a national Government. “This was all the more essential since the evening papers on Friday announced in a statement from the Prime Minister that Parliament was being called together urgently to pass legislation of the most extreme character, similar to that just passed in England, following the unification of the people under a national Government.

“As Leader of the Opposition I did this for no political party or personal grounds,” he continued. "On behalf of the Opposition I was not seeking office for office sake. “What is needed today is a combination comprising the most full representation of all the people so as to secure willing agreement and fullyconcentrated effort under the most extreme control methods that the crisis has now demanded. There is only one end in view—victory. There is now one need only—unity: unity through full representation in the highest administration of government.