Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, JULY 1, 1940. WHY NOT POLITICAL UNITY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, JULY 1, 1940. WHY NOT POLITICAL UNITY.

POLITICAL unity, opening the way to the establishment o a War Cabinet representing the whole of the people ant empowered to concentrate upon an adequate contribution to the Empire effort for victory, clearly is demanded by t weight of opinion in this country. In the present critical sta o of the struggle to defeat and destroy Hitlerism it becomes moi • than ever difficult to justify or excuse the failure of °y r representatives to take this essential step m national or o anis< tion It has been said justly that a union of political forces is not in itself enough and that what is needed is united agreement and action throughout the community. The position at present, however, is that divisions and distinctions are being maintained in Parliament which have to a great extent lost their meaning in the country. Our politicians, that is to say, are showing themselves less able than the people they represent to unite m a loyal union of effort in the one great cause that is now important.

In the extent to which they have ween defined and disclosed, proposals made thus far for the united leadership of the opposed forces in Parliament have offered not real unity, but a kind of makeshift substitute, hampered by restrictions and reservations A War Cabinet permitted to act only within certain specified limits would be an anachronism and a sham. It would fail even to approximate to the principles upon which genuine administrative unity must be based, and could not be expected io operate efficiently. Since there has been no full disclosure of the negotiations in which the parties have engaged, it would be unfair to assume that obstacles to unity have been raised by only one side. The essential fact is that the parties have failed thus far to reach an agreement which would enable them to combine their efforts in the national cause.

It is to the Prime Minister that the people of the Dominion must look primarily for initiative in making an end of this unsatisfactory state of affairs. Mr Fraser can find no better way of promoting the all-in war effort upon which he undoubtedly is sincerely intent than in giving the united lead that is needed to ensure the establishment of a War Cabinet which would ais nearly as possible represent the whole population. The desirability must be as evident to the Premier as it is to most other people of setting a period to the discordant and rather petty wrangling which has already been heard in the brief debates of the present session.

The need of tin undivided concentration upon the national war ei'forl appears to be perceived more clearly by the people of the Dominion generally than by their representatives in i’ai-liameni ..nd it may be suggested to the Prime Minister that in tiie matter of the constitution of a War Cabinet he is faced by alt nppoi-iunity for the bold leadership that is demanded in iimes of u’i'eat emergency. As a Labour Prime Minister, Mr Fraser of necessity has to look in some measure to the organisations of his party* but the Prime Minister in that capacity has an obligation <<’> the total body politic which transcends all party affiliations and never more definitely than in days of great and critical emergency. It is open to Mr Fraser to set a period to political contention, and to constitute a War Cabinet, simply by inviting appropriate numbers of his present colleagues and of members of the Opposition to join that body on no other condition than that of giving loyal service to the Dominion and the Empire. It is hardly in doubt that action thus taken by the Prime Minister would effectively serve its intended purpose and would be approved and supported by an overwhelming weight of ..public opinion throughout the Dominion.

AGGRESSORS AT ODDS.

How far Russia means to go in her aggression directed meantime against Rumania has still to be made clear. It is not in doubt that part of the design of the Soviet is to make itself as secure as possible on all frontiers against future attack and that its action in the Baltic and in the Balkans links up from that standpoint in one great scheme of policy. How far, however, the desire of the Soviet for security is accompanied by a readiness to engage in predatory aggression for its own sake is meantime uncertain. The consequences of Russia’s action remain correspondingly a matter for conjecture. Very little more than has already happened—perhaps nothing more—is needed to plunge the whole Balkan Peninsula into war, but it is possible that if Russia contents herself with a defined seizure of territory from Rumania, temporary stability may be imparted to the situation.

The danger, however, has by no means disappeared that a blaze of war may extend through the Balkans, with effects-as yet beyond calculation. Much depends not only on the intentions of the Soviet, but on those of the Axis Powers and on the ability of the latter—assuming, as seems to be established, that their immediate desire is to avoid a violent break with Russia —to restrain Hungary and Bulgaria, both of whom are eager to follow the example of the Soviet in wresting from Rumania territories of which they consider themselves to have been despoiled.

If war spreads through the Balkans, involving Turkey, (lie position of the Allies in the Mediterranean, already made difficult in some particulars, may be. further complicated. On the other hand it is difficult to envisage any development of the situation which will not sooner or later bring the Axis Powers and the Soviet into conflict. Germany’s intimation that she is not interested in the Soviet, action in Rumania has meaning only in implying that the Nazi dictatorship leels the time to be inopportune for an assertion of the interest it claims in the Balkans and in Eastern Europe. It altogether overshadows the manoeuvres and reservations of the moment that Hitler has long pointed to the conduct and occupation of the Soviet Ukraine as an essential object of Nazi policy. At the same time, a desire to establish the utmost safeguards possible against, attack by Germany obviously is a factor of great weight in all that the Soviet has done to secure and to extend its frontiers from Northern to South-Eastern Europe. Nothing seems more likely than that Germany and Russia eventually will come into violent conflict along their virtually continuous common frontier, which now extends from Northern Europe to the Balkans.

On.. The. hiatua) n . apa mstric ing June. Three bankruptcies registered during the half year en yesterday. Red Cross Art Union. The Red Cross art union for a Hillman Minx motor-car was drawn in Dunedin on Saturday. The winning ticket, No. 133832, is held by Mrs G. Tulloch, Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin. Vital Statistics. Vital statistics registered at the Masterton Courthouse last month, with figures for June, 1939, in parentheses are as follow: Births, 20 (19); deaths, 8 (7); marriages, 15 (8). Price of Milk. A local published in the “TimesAge” on June 22 concerning the retail price of milk referred to Auckland, and obviously not to Masterton, where there is no milk council nor bottle system in operation. Drivers’ Licences. The Masterton Borough Council has issued 2034 drivers’ licences for the current licensing period. The Masterton County Council issued 129 licences last month, bringing the total issued to date to 1132. Firewood for Camp. The Masterton Rotary Club has made itself responsible for the supply of 20 cords of firewood for the various reception huts at Trentham Camp. Arrangements are well in hand to secure the necessary wood. Borough Building Permits. Seven building permits were issued by the Masterton Borough. Council for June for an estimated total value oi £3213 6s 6d, as against eleven permits in June of last year for an estimated value of £l6lB. Last month’s permits included one for the erection of a new bakery. A Patriotic Effort.

A decision to work extra hours with out overtime as a contribution to the war effort, has been made by 200 members of the Auckland staff of the State Advances Corporation. The original suggestion was to work on Saturday mornings, but it was decided to work five additional hours from Monday to Friday, thus saving transport costs. Death from Injuries.

A motor-car travelling toward Christchurch at 8.50 o’clock on Saturday night collided with a tram bound for Papanui. Of the motor’s passengers a man whose name is unknown died on the way to hospital, Private P. Noonan, Burnham Camp, was seriously injured and Misses Pat Fennell and Doris Fennell suffered facial and scalp injuries, but their condition is satisfactory.

No Change in Sugar Prices. “There will be no change in sugar prices in New Zealand for three months anyhow,” said the Minister of Marketing, Mr Nash, in an interview last night, when asked to comment on the progress of negotiations between the Government and the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Limited, for a new agreement. “There will be a new agreement, but there will be no change in price,” the Minister continued. “The Government will subsidise the price to make sure that it is the same.” Compulsory Loan.

“Legislation implementing the proposals outlined in the Budget will be brought down as soon as possible,” said the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, last night. Questioned on the proposal to introduce a compulsory loan for war purposes, Mr Nash said that the amount of the loan had not been decided yet. Full details would be issued in a prospectus so that the public could study the posposals. A date would be fixed for the last day on which voluntary loan contributions might be made.

Arbor Day Appeal

An appeal for a special tree-planting effort on Arbor Day, which falls on August 7, was made on Saturday by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry. He suggested that in this time of national trial the community could make a profession of faith in the future of its country and its empire in no better way than by planting trees. The activity of local bodies in arranging suitable functions foi - Arbor Day in past years had undoubtedly assisted in forming a strong public opinion in favour of tree planting, the Minister said. He felt that as local bodies were in most cases associated with the centennial organisation they would, by their efforts this year, still further enhance public interest.in. what was an important national activity.

A Fighting Crusade. “We are facing the greatest crisis the world has known. We cannot tell how much further the Germans will progress or what sacrifices arc yet to be made, or what will happen here in New Zealand, but if you and I believe in God at all we cannot believe that the tyranny embodied in Germany can .succeed,” said Bishop Simkin at the annual meeting of the Auckland City Mission. “Because God is God and right is right, these dark days will surely pass,” he said, “but are we as a nation, an empire, citizens of Auckland, or Anglican members, so clean in heart and life, so sincere in our Christianity that we can expect the help of God? This is a crusade, and to fight a crusade we must have clean hands and hearts.” Men for Farm Work. “Wc have now more suitable men ready to take up farm work than we have jobs to offer them.” said the Minister of Labour. Mr Webb, in an interview on Saturday. A survey of workers on State undertakings to discover men suitable for farm work showed that there were more than 2000 employees willing to take it up. In co-operation with other State departments, the State Placement Service had launched a vigorous campaign to effect farm placements, said Mr Webb. In addition to the survey, an endeavour was being made through various publicity channels as well as by direct contact to ascertain their labour requirements from farmers. Many of the 2000 suitable Slate employees, specially the married men, were experienced farm workers and there would be no difficulty in releasing them as soon as they were required.

. dill . ; / A. CockS F. C. Die. a. ' ’ '/ F. W. Ford. R. S. Percy. E. B. Stace. G. T. Whiting. The following Territorials paraded for medical examination on Friday:— H. L. Cornish. J. Cruickshank. H. J. Hayes. H. W. Hope Cross. F. J. Ericson. E. J. Martin. 1 J. M. McGrath. L. S. Royes. A. E. Read. N. D. Rutherford. H. E. Stalker. W. G. Stevenson. A. T. Smith. G. E. L. Tomlin. E. S. Wilson. C. A. Wainscott. C. E. R. Wise. R. M. Wickens. W. J. Wickens. K. I. Walker. R. A. Wilton. The following men were medically examined for home defence on Friday: — A. Cockburn. F. W. Ford. E. B. Stace. G. T. Whiting. Sittings of the Medical Board are being held today, tomorrow and on Wednesday.