POLITICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1931, Page 3

POLITICAL

ELECTION POSSIBILITIES. . WELLINGTON RUMOURS. WELLINGTON, October 9. Publication of the fact that Cabinet opinion is changing towards an early appeal to the electorate following a brisk legislative programme has aroused intense interest among the rank and file of political parties. Those members outside the Cabinet circle were found to be in a state of uncertainty, as neither of the Coalition leaders can tell them anything more than the actual fact that there has been no Cabinet decision on the question. Some believe it impossible to carry the necessary legislation and consider the reduced estimates within the lime limit which an early election would impose. For that reason they subscribe to the view that the session must continue until after the date on which the present Parliament must prorogue, namely about niid-Aovember, therefore the Coalition Government must introduce a -measure of extension which, they think, would enable the coalition to be maintained until March 31, the end of the financial year. Labour members, strongly advocating an early election, readily agreed that if the Government announced such a decision they would concentrate opposition to objectionable measures by forcing divisions but with a minimum of debate, in order to facilitate an early election. Labour members also suggest that it would be more reasonable if the Government went to the country on its pi'ans and endeavoured to obtain a mandate rather than attempt hasty legislation with the assistance of the closure: “If they obtained a majority,” declared a prominent member of ■the party, ‘‘that would be the verdict of the country and we would have to be content.”

The. news of the changing opinion of .Cabinet evidently came as a surprise, particularly to United supporters 1 of the coalition* who declare that they had been under the impression that twelve months’ election postponement was- part of the agreement, and they had not been consulted. However, it is reported that there will be a caucus ot the United Party on Tuesday. ;