MOVE FOR UNITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1941, Page 4

MOVE FOR UNITY

OFFER BY OPPOSITION PARTY FORMATION OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. REPLY BY PRIME MINISTER TODAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The offer of the National Party to join in the formation of a national non-party Government was reaffirmed at a caucus in Wellington yesterday ol Parliamentary members of the National Party. The caucus was adjourned to enable the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, to see the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in reference to the Opposition’s offer. This will be the subject of a statement today by the Prime Minister.

The following statement was issued last night by the Leader of the Opposition:—

“Owing to the extreme gravity of the war situation now facing the Empire, and with the New Zealand Forces actively engaged, a caucus of the Parliamentary Opposition was held in Wellington today. “After a full discussion it was unanimously resolved that the caucus be adjourned to enable the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, to see the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in order to reaffirm to. him the offer of the National Party to join in the formation of a truly national non-party Government. “The caucus was unanimously of the opinion that the position could be met satisfactorily only by the formation of a truly National Government, and that the entire sinking of party politics and the cessation of the otherwise inevitable campaigning were essential to the achievement of that complete unity of national thought and action needed in this crisis.

“It was considered that any proposal that the Leader of the Opposition should join the War Cabinet would not only fall far short of what is really needed, but would not in fact meet the fundamental issue. Party politics would still divide the country.”

MR FRASER’S COMMENT PUBLIC STATEMENT PROMISED. “I propose to make a statement tomorrow to the Labour Party Conference in reference to the report of the decision of the caucus of the National Party concerning the suggested formation of a National Government,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, when the statement by Mr Holland was brought to his notice late last night. “This statement will be published."