THE COMING ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2238, 26 August 1914, Page 7

THE COMING ELECTION

PETITION FOR POSTPONEMENT. The recently-formed Now Zealand Moderate League has boen considering the political situation in New Zealand, and as the outcome of tho committee's dejiberatious.-.it has'.como. to the decision (that in the interests'of the community and the country it would-'be; advisable to postpone the general elections. Mr. R. A.' Armstrong,.' ; 'spore'" l '-; _if ■< 1 -'« league, states'that if tho elections were held at the usual. time it »uiuu that party organisation, with its internal strife and inevitable ..bitterness, would have to.be set in full swing at onco. Everything possible should bo dono to avoid (lint, and the postponement of the-elections for a fpw months would harm neither party. In.an. en-, deavour to effect a postponement-it is proposed to present a petition to Parliament, which is to be sent out at onco to the league's branches for the obtaining of signatures. The petition reads as follows:— "To the .honourable members of the House of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled: Tho petition of the undersigned electors humbly showeth: — "(1) That we are fully qualified electors of New' Zealand enrolled, or entitled to be enrolled, on the several electoral rolla of tho Duminion. "(2). That the. British Empire is engaged in x a war of unprecedented magnitude, upon the result of .which the happiness and prosperity of this country wholly depends. "(a) That'tho whole-attention of the ; electors of this country is, and should bo, directed to'assisting '.the Mother Country in this time of national danger. ."(4) That while great issiies of Empire aro at. stake wo as electors cannot give adequate attention to the internal of tho Domirtion. ". "(5) That tho stirring up of political strife and the dividing of parties always inseparable from any party organisation would bo deplorable at the present juncture. "Wherefbr. we pray that the next general'elections be postponed to such a date as your honolirablo House shall in its discretion deem fit. And your petitioners will as in duty bound over pray."