FAIR CHANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1942, Page 2

FAIR CHANCE

PROMISED TO THE WAR ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL PARTY DECISION. AFTER FULL AND FREE DISCUSSION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “I still retain the view that it would have been better to have had a National Government, but in the absence of a truly national government this is the best arrangement that was possible under the circumstances, and is better than any alternative. I will accept my share of the responsibility.” These remarks were made by the Minister of War Expenditure and deputy-chairman of the War Cabinet, Mr Holland, in an address on the new War Administration at the annual conference of the New Zealand National Party, which opened in Wellington yesterday, about 250 delegates being present. The president, Mr Alex Gordon, Hamilton, -was in the chair. Dealing with the extension of the life of Parliament, Mr Holland said he did not think there was likely to be a further postponement after next year unless there was a clear-cut expression of public opinion that there should be a further postponement. He did not think Parliament had a right to remain in office a day longer than the public wanted them to stay there, and they were not entitled to extend the life of Parliament beyond next year unless satisfied that public opinion would support it beyond any doubt. After a full and frank discussion which occupied the greater part of the afternoon session, the following resolution was carried unanimously by the conference: “That this conference endorses the action of our leader, Mr Holland, in consistently working for national unity. We affirm our loyalty to him as our leader and pledge ourselves wholeheartedly to support the War Administration and give it a fair chance to prove itself in practice.”