“AT THIS LATE HOUR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 March 1941, Page 5

“AT THIS LATE HOUR”

9 NATIONAL GOVERNMENT QUESTION PREMIER AND OPPOSITION LEADER. WORK OF WAR CABINET. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Following a statement by Mr. Holland (Opposition Leader), in the House of Representations yesterday, on the need for a National Government, the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) pointed out that Mr. Holland had been reported as stating in a speech in the country that his party could not accept a coalition Government at this late hour. Was this statement the policy of the Opposition, or did the leader’ speak without the consent of his party?” Mr. Fraser asked. “New Zealand is not the only Dominion without a National Government. We have one in the Mother Country, but in Canada there is no National Government. In Australia there is none, but there is an advisory War Council which has justified itself over and over again. Mr. Holland was too circumscribed in his ideas of the War Cabinet in New Zealand, the Prime Minister added. There were phases of the war which required the deliberations of both the War Cabinet and the War Council combined, and on occasions they had the Ministers of Supply, National Service, and other Ministers at meetings of the War Cabinet to discuss the various phases of the war effort. He had been quite willing that the Leader of the Opposition should join the War Cabinet .too. . “I cannot speak too highly of the War Cabinet and the War Council.” Mr. Fraser said. “The War Cabinet is a quick-acting executive and in not one single instance has there been disagreement between it and the Government. Every question is fully discussed on its merits. Whatever charge may be brought, against the Government party about a National Cabinet, the Leader of the Opposition has taken up a stand that it is now too late.”