Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1943. POLITICAL DIVISIONS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 April 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1943. POLITICAL DIVISIONS.

■» WITH the country committed by Parliament to a general election this year, and with a great many people, to say the least, .finding little that is inspiring in the prospect, there are indications of increasing divisions in the ranks of established and embryonic political parties, and of an attempt to establish at least one new party. As a further contribution to this state of affairs, the member for Riccarton (Mr. Kyle) who announced his independence at the time when the National Party withdrew its representatives from the War Administration, is reported to have made a statement in regard to the formation of a “win the war” group, with Messrs. Coates, Hamilton-and Massey as its leading members.

Messrs. Coates and Hamilton have at once declared, however, that in the meantime they are not concerned in any form of party politics and further that: —

The fact that sufficient unity, which means the spreading of responsibility, cannot be agreed to, so that a general election, with all its turmoil and division, could be avoided, is to be deplored. With a grave struggle still in front of us and our Allies, common sense seems to dictate that the pursuance of party politics should cease, and that public leaders should combine in directing New Zealand’s whole effort and capacity to one goal—defeating the enemy. This will require the combined efforts of all citizens in the country before it is over;

It is much to be regretted that this view of the matter did not prevail when the House of Representatives voted recently on the question-of an election this year. By its vote the House has brought upon the country at least the possibility of political confusion. On the other hand, there does not seem to be any doubt that a vast majority of the electors bitterly resent and condemn political wrangling at a time when all efforts should be centred on giving maximum support to our fighting forces.

There are, of course, political differences which will have to be settled in clue course, by appointed and constitutional methods, but that any of these differences are worth wasting time over until the war has been won has yet to be ejemonstrated. The need for united concentration on the war effort ought to have been emphasised sufficiently by the facts of our manpower position as these were set before Parliament a week or two ago. It has to be considered also that a general election this year will be not unlikely to coincide with a supremely critical phase of the war.