THE GENERAL ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 176, 15 April 1918, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION

POSTPONEMENT OBJECTED T"0 APRIL NEXT SUGGESTED. When the clause proposing to lenjftheu the life ot tho ilouso was under consideration, Mr. Statham said he could not support tho extension of'the life of Parliament to the end of 1919. He moved an amendment reducing the extension to April, 1919. Sir Joseph Ward said he could not accept the amendment. It was very unlikely that die October session would close before the end of the year. Probably members would lave to meet again after the Now Year and sit jn January, February, and possibly March. Members would realise the difficulty of holding an election in April if they were sitting in their places in Parliament until March. He felt sure the vast majority of the people of New Zealand understood the difficulties of tho position. Members should be told enough to face the facts pnd admit that an election could not bo hold at the end of this year or early next year, owing to exceptional circumstances quite beyond the control of the Government or of Parliament. Not the Right Time. Mr. Massey said tlie election would not necessarily be postponed until the end of next year. ': lie Government had power to dissolve Parliament when the opportunity offered. He was not afraid ot an election. There could be no doubt that an election lickl under present conditions would result in the return of tho National Government. No alternative offered. But it would iio a crime to hold an election at a time of extraordinary stress and diiiiculty, when the nation was in an anxious and disturbed state, and the Government was dealing with problems of exceptional , gravity. "Wo do not know when the war. is going to end," said Mr. Massey. "My own opinion is that f he war will come lo an end much sooner than luost ptyplc ex-

peel." Mr. Veitch said the clause of the Bill was particularly dangerous, because it gave the Government' power to spring an election on the country at any time without notice.

Mr. Massey: "Wo have that power now. The Government could bring about an election at any time."

Mr. Wilkinson said ht- had no doubt a general election would result in the return of the National Government. But it would clear the air and satisfy the people who wished to have a say in tiie government of tho country. Mr. Fletcher said that he would vote against the clause. Ho saw no reason why an election should not be held. Air. Young ;aid it would be reasonable to postpone the election until April. A further postponement could he made at the second session if it was co"-i''e'-'' advisable. He had no doubt th n X-iii»ual Government would be retainc- 1 in olluafter a general election. I":l the chance to vol- would «rt''- • -o-'-The lion. T. M. s.-id !'••• Government had left I he (I-cl-ioh with Parliament. The Government itself had not postponed the o'"climi. There would be nothing to prevent any member moving during the second session to take the general election at any date. \ memberr What chance would his Bill have? Mr, AYiiforrj said the clause ■ nwl» it

possible for the election to be set back until the end of 1919, but did- not prevent an earlier date being fixed it occasion offered.

The amendment whs rejected by iO votes to 20.

Dr. Newman asked what effect the clause would have on the licensing poll. Sir Joseph Ward: My own opinion is that the licensing poll should take place on the day of the general election. The power remains with Parliament. It is for Parliament to say. The Clause Adopted. The clause was approved by 13 votes to 19. The division list was as follows:— For the clause (Jit).—Allen, Anstey, Bollard, Buick, Colvin, Dickie, J. 11. Dickson, J. a. Dickson, Ell, W. H. Field, • Forbes, Frnser, Gutlirie, Hanan, Harris, Hemes, Homsby, Hudson, Hunter, Isitt, Lee, Luke, M'Callum, Mac Donald, Mander, Massey, Myers, Ngata, Noswortliy, Okey, Pan-, Poland, Pomnre, Feed, Pussell, Scott, G. H. Smith, 11. \Y". Smith, Sykes, Talbot, Thomson, Ward, Wilford. Against the clause (I!)).—Anderson, Oaigie, T. A. H. Field*Fletcher, ilindmarsli, Jennings, M'Combs, A. K. Newman, Payne, Poole, T. W. Rhodes, Slatham, Tlmcker, Veitch, Walker, Wilkinson, Witty, Wright, Young. w Local Bodies and the Loan. Mr. M'Combs opened a discussion on Clause Ji, proposing to give the local bodies power to borrow money by overdraft in order to invest in the loan. He argued that this couid benefit no one but the banks. The local bodies would lose 1 per cent., the difference between Iho interest rate of 11 paid by the Government and the j.} tiie banks would charge. This would lead to purposeless waste of the people's money. If the banks had tho money to lend at OJ they could lend it nt U per cent., and the Government should make them lend it. Mr. Payno supported Mr. M'Combs. Sir Joseph Ward said that the clause was permissive only. The local bodies could please themselves and make their own arrangements with the banks. Some local bodies had asked for this power. And as every such operation had to bo approved by the Minister, there was no danger of tho ratepayers' money

being wasted. This method, through the local bodies would bo the only.one by which many people would bo able to couti i bate. The clause was carried. A new clause prohibited the importation of immature spirits, meaning 'thereby spirit* that had. not been matured in wood for at least three years. This clause was added lo the Bill, i