ATTITUDE DEFINED

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20950, 1 November 1939, Page 9

ATTITUDE DEFINED

OPPOSITION AND WAR MEANING OF CO-OPERATION MISREPRESENTATION ALLEGED

“The necessity for making clear the meaning of the co-operation between the Government and the Opposition is emphasised by the appearance of a featured article in the official organ of the Labour Party,” said the Hon. Adam Hamilton, Leader of the Opposition, in the course of an address to members of the South Auckland Division of the New Zealand National Party, last night. Mr A. Gordon presided and Mr W. S. Goosman, M.P. for Waikato, was also present. “I want to make it perfectly clear,” continued Mr Hamilton, “that because the Opposition promptly offered the Government co-operation in war measures, which was gladly accepted, it was in no way committed to meek acceptance of proposals in which the necessity as a war measure was either doubtful or nonexistent.

“In this article of the official organ of the Labour Party there was a welter of misrepresentation, deliberately and viciously designed to try and place a charge against the Opposition, because of its criticism of some of the measures, that it had obstructed war effort,” Mr Hamilton alleged. “That is a type of propaganda I thought unknown to this country; it is worthy of the dictatorial system against which the British peoples are at present at war. It is a lie. New Zealand people will not tolerate that type of distortion of the truth at a time like this, make no mistake. Fair Play Demanded “No-one is more whole-heartedly behind the war effort than the Opposition and the members of the National Party whom they represent. But we have a right to demand fair play at home. “Before the war the Government policy had brought the Dominion into a position of great difficulty, with extraordinary measures such as exchange control and import restriction,” stated the speaker. “Taxation had already been increased and provision made for extensive use of loan and credit.

“The Opposition readily gave its assent to war emergency regulations and legislation, where the war-time necessity and application was beyond doubt. The Government’s authority was widely extended in this way. “Where the motive was political—merely advancing the planning of State Socialism in this country—the Opposition fought with all its strength,” he said. “It will continue to do so. If democracy is worth fighting for abroad it is worth defending politically in this country. Legislation that was unashamedly introduced since the outbreak of war, with the admission that it was extending and consolidating a political assault on private enterprise and the freedom and justice known under our British heritage and tradition, could not pass uncontested.

Political Motives Resisted

“Support for war effort and a temporary loss of the individual freedom which is the chief feature of British Democracy will be forthcoming—must be forthcoming,” Mr Hamilton stated. “However, I would be failing in my duty if I did not make it perfectly clear that prosecution by the Government of purely political motives will be bitterly resistedThroughout this country people are in no mood for trifling in this attitude. , “I would be failing m my duty, too, if I did not say that the Government’s introduction of legislation and regulation, shaped to their political ends against the tragic background of our entry into this war, unquestionably threatens to stifle the very national spirit and united effort for which the Government and the National Party are appealing.”