WAR ADMINISTRATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 June 1942, Page 2

WAR ADMINISTRATION

Unity Agreement Between Parties Seven Labour Members —Six Opposition Domestic Cabinet to Continue Life of Parliament to be Extended (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day.

Arrangements made between the Labour and National Parties for the formation of a War Administration of 13 Ministers seven Government Ministers and six from the Opposition party — were announced by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in the House of Representatives last night. The members of the existing v\ ar Cabinet are to hold office in the enlarged administration, and one of the Government Ministers is to be a prominent trade unionist. Mr Fraser said, however, that it obviously would be necessary for a smaller number of Ministers to be in constant attendance to deal promptly with war questions daily as they arose, and suitable arrangements would be made accordingly.. The full executive powers possessed by the War Administration and hitherto wielded by the existing War Cabinet would probably be delegated in a considerable measure to the smaller body. The domestic Cabinet will continue to function. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, also speaking in the House, said that the 13 Ministers of the War Administration would be clothed with full Ministerial authority andwouldbe responsible only to the smaller body referred to by Mr Fraser. The Prime Minister said that members of the domestic Cabinet outside the War Cabinet would retain their positions. Caucuses were held by both parties during yesterday morning and in the afternoon a joint statement issued by the Prime Minis, ter and by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, announced’ that an arrangement to form a War Administration was approved at these meetings.

CABINET CHANGES.

In the course of a further statement when the House met last night the Prime Minister said that the members of the existing War Cabinet —Mr Sullivan, Mr Jones, Mr Coates, Mr Hamilton and himself —and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, w’ould be members of the enlarged body. One of the Government Ministers would be a prominent trade unionist who would be intimately associated with the specially important work of industrial manpower. “It will obviously be necessary for a smaller number of Ministers to be in constant attendance for the purpose of dealing promptly with war questions each and every day as they arise, and suitable arrangements will be made accordingly,” the Premier added. “The full executive powers possessed by the War Administration and hitherto wielded by the existing War Cabinet will probably be delegated in a considerable measure to this smaller body. “If the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, now rendering such valuable service as our New Zealand Minister in Washington, returns, he will take up his Ministerial duties to enable him to resume his War Cabinet duties also. ELECTION UNTHINKABLE. “It is agreed on all hands,” the Prime Minister continued, “that a general election this year, or at any time of war stress such as we are experiencing, is unthinkable; at the best it would be, in all the many circumstances, a very bad mistake disuniting instead of uniting the people of the Dominion. At the worst it would be an unwarranted and unnecessary trampling underfoot of the feeling of the many parents and relatives who are worried over the danger of their loved ones and who want to help as a united nation in the war effort., “It has accordingly been agreed that a Bill, providing for the extension of the life of Parliament for the period of the war and_for a period not exceeding 12 months after the war will be introduced for the consideration of the House.” Mr Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn): Regardless of the duration of the war! The Prime Minister said the question could be brought forward for consideration from time to time. However, he could not see any self-respecting member of the Government continuing on in office interminably, and if it were necessary to insert any proviso in the measure that could be considered. Mr Lee: “Why not a periodic extension every 12 months?” The Prime Minister said that was a matter for the House to decide. So long as the parties and the House felt that members represented the people they should go on, and if they did not feel that way they should not continue if the circumstances justified an election. GREAT POSSIBILITIES. “I am not going to claim that the arrangement made is perfect or ideal,' said Mr Fraser. “It has been made in purity of spirit in an endeavour to bring about the political unity that will lead the country in national unity in its war effort. Criticism can and will be levelled at the arrangement made. It is susceptible to criticism, but it also has great possibilities of bringing about the greatest possible unity among the people at the present time and the utilisation of efficient achievement.” Mr Fraser said that when the War Cabinet was first proposed he had doubts as to whether it would work, for it was in the nature of an experiment, but it had been most successful, and he could see no reason why the new arrangement should not work equally well. If the House and the supporters of the war effort in the country united there could be no doubt about its potentialities in contributing New Zealand’s great share to the defeat of the despotic powers that threatened them.

MAKING HISTORY

STATEMENT BY OPPOSITION LEADER. Supplementing the Prime Minister’s remarks Mr Holland said that the House that night was making history. The Prime Minister’s announcement, in which he fully shared, completed negotiations which had taken place for several weeks. The Prime Minister and his colleagues had shown unfailing courtesy to him during a difficult job for all concerned. He wished to emphasise that from his own observations the negotiations had been wisely protracted. He felt proud to have taken part in decisions which he felt certain would promote national harmony. He was convinced that the agreement would result in a great measure of national unity. The public, should know that the dominant motive had been the welfare of New Zealand and the Empire, and he was confident that an overwhelming majority of the people would endorse a decision which indicated that members of the House were able to rise above the selfish interests of party. The new arrangement was reached solely with a desire to strengthen the war effort whose absolute importance was emphasised by the decision arrived at.

“I want to say a word to the critics,” Mr Holland continued. “No one suggests that the arrangement is perfect. It is not possible for any human being in this Dominion to come to a perfect arrangement, but we have made an honest effort to comply with the people’s will by bringing about the greatest possible degree of unity. It should be realised that what is involved is a political revolution. In the past we have looked at each other through the smoked glasses of party interests, but now we are trying to rise above it. “The new administration will be in supreme command of every phase of war activities,” said Mr Holland, “and every member of it will be clothed with full Ministerial authority and will be responsible only to the War Cabinet itself.” Referring to the Prime Minister’s statement that a trade unionist from outside the House would be a member of the new Cabinet,, Mr Holland said he had always taken the orthodox view that onlj r members of the Legislature should hold Ministerial office. ‘During war time, however, there comes a time when we have to do things we never dreamt of before,” said Mr Holland. “In Britain outsiders have been taken into the war administration. The Prime Minister considers that industrial peace is essential to a 100 per cent, war effort. He also considers that the proposed appointment will result in a greater industrial efficiency and I accept that view.” Rank, position and terms meant nothing, and it was the members of the House who would determine the success of the new administration. “I am 'sure,” said Mr Holland, “that the comIbined organisation will function smoothly, and I pledge myself to the Prime Minister whom we accept as our war leader and will try to make this arrangement a success.”