GENERAL ELECTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 July 1941, Page 4

GENERAL ELECTION

NO DECISION TILL PREMIER RETURNS STATEMENT BY MR NASH. OPPOSITION LEADER ASKED TO JOIN WAR CABINET. ißv Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. July 10. "This is something that will have to wait till Mr Fraser comes back." said the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, at Auckland today, when asked by a questioner at a meeting in Birkenhead whether there would be a general election this year. “There have been efforts for a long time to build up a National Government,” the Minister continued. Mr Fraser had slated to a Labour Party conference that he thought there might be something to be said for that, but he did not say there was. He said that when he had been Home to England and weighed the circumstances of the war and the war effort he would come back again and consult with his colleagues as to whether there should be an election. “It might be good if there was not a general election,” said Mr Nash. “It is correct to say that we have urged the Leader of the Opposition to come into the War Cabinet, which completely, controls the war effort.” Mr Nash recalled that two members of the Opposition. Messrs Coates and Hamilton, were members of the War Cabinet, and said that they wore giving the same service as other members. He could not see why Mr Holland should not also come in. The Minister mentioned also the War Council, with representatives of different interests, and said it was doing splendid work. The council considered all war problems. "I am not going to argue one way or another with regard to a National Government," Mr Nash concluded. He added that there was, however, room in the War Cabinet for the Leader of the Opposition, and he had been invited to join.