NATIONAL CABINET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1942, Page 4

NATIONAL CABINET

WITH FULL EXECUTIVE POWERS ADVOCATED BY R.S.A. DEPUTATION PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. WILL APPROACH OPPOSITION LEADER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The establishment of a National War Cabinet, with full executive powers and including in its personnel men from outside Parliament, was one of the proposals placed before the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) this morning by a deputation from the Dominion Executive of the R.S.A., headed by the president of that organisation (the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.). Mr Perry stated that the National Executive of the Labour Party and the Parliamentaly caucus of that party agreed with the principle of the establishment of such a Cabinet. The executive of the National Party and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland), however, while agreeing that it was desirable to bring about political unity, were of opinion that the proposals were not practicable or calculated to achieve the end desired, and were convinced that the only way to meet the position was by the formation of a national, non-party Government. In reply, Mr Fraser said he could speak for the United Labour movement, which saw: in the .proposals a great prospect of achieving that unity in the country’s war effort they all deemed c 0 absolutely essential. There were certain difficulties, but he did not think they were insuperable. He gave the deputation assurances that he would take an early opportunity of approaching the Leader of the Opposition and discussing the manifesto with him, with a view to achieving as much unity as ocssible. . . ~ Mr Fraser said he would again invite Mr Holland' to join the War Cabinet.