WAR CABINET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 May 1942, Page 4

WAR CABINET

SHOULD HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER ALL NATIONAL EXPENDITURE. OPPOSITION CONTENTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. When the Financial Debate was continued in the House of Representatives this morning, Mr W. A. Bodkin advocated that the War Cabinet ■ should control the entire finances of the country. He contended that the present Fintncial Statement should have been submitted to the War Cabinet before its presentation to the House. The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser), by way of interjection, agreed that such a course should have been followed. , Mr Bodkin said the Statement should have been submitted to the War Cabinet as a matter of right, not one of courtesy . The War Cabinet should have complete control of the country’s finances and should be able to decide what expenditure should be made for military and for civilian purposes. Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Independent) made a plea for the greatest possible national unity and said that if we could not have a National Government, then the only thing left should be to strengthen the War Cabinet. He could not agree with the Leader of the Opposition in his refusal to join the War Cabinet. This country wanted deeds, not talk, and Parliament should govern and get right down to business. The House adjourned for lunch at 1 p.m.