"BRUSHED ASIDE"

Rotorua Morning Post, 29 August 1931, Page 3

"BRUSHED ASIDE"

("Post" Special Commissioner).

\ general election PRIME MINISTER AGAIN ON POSTPONED ELECTION. MR. COATES NGN-COMMITTAL.

WELLINGTON, Friday. The question of the postponement of the general election was brought up in the House to-day during the course.of the debate on»the. Licensing Postponement Bill. The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, expressed the opinion that the position was so serious that "all considerations of a general election should be brushed aside." Mr. H. E. Holland, leader of the Labour Party, reiterated that his party would not "stand for it" but the leader of the Opposition, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, would not he drawn, and contente-d himself. with the opinion that it would be a mistake at present to 'look beyond the point when the present economic committee made its final recommendations, The Licensing Postponement Bill was passed.

Pledges Made. Mr. D. T. Sullivan, speaking on the Licensing Bill, said that executives had no right to have their decision aece-pted, to deprive the whole of the electors of the Dominion of the right to exercise their judgment on an important question. Members of the House who had pledged themselves to a triennial poll, had given promises to constituents and could not be absolved from them because a certain organisation changed its mind. Mr. J. T. Hogan (Rangitikei) , said they were putting the eart before the horse and before deciding to postpone the Licensing Poll, they should receive a report from the inter-party conference. Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South), said at the conference which had decided the Allianee's policy there were 14 present. Seven voted for the postponement and three against, while four refused to vote. They had reached the stage apparently, when small groups of people could take away a privilege from democracy. Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne), said that such a coritroversial subject should be set aside "while. there were more important and far reaching problems to solve. Members pledged to the Alliance were now absolved by the Allianee's decision in favour of a postponement of the poll. Mr. W. Nash (Hutt), said a second party could not be released from a pledge given to someone else. Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller), opposed the amendment on the grounds that the inter-party economic committee had no right to deal with politics 1 auestions. The amendment was defeated by 58 to 11, the only supporters being Merrs. Burnett, Hogan, Howard, Jordan, Langstone, McCombs, Martin. Mason, Munro, W. Nash, and Sullivan. Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington suburbs), was paired in favour. General Election. When the Bill was read a second time in committee the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, introduced amendments to make the intention of the Bill more clear. The amendments were to the effect that no licensing poll should be taken simultaneously with the first generaelection held after the passing of the Act, but that a poll be taken at the same time as the second general election after the passage of the Act. notwithstanding that the preceding Parliament might have been dissolved before it had been two years in existence. Mr. D. Jones (mid-Canter-bury), raised the question of the postponement of the general election That was very important and shoulc be decided at onee, he said. The Prime Minister should say what was n his mind. Mr. Forbes said the Bill made it clear. The- poll would take place at the second general election from now. The Government could not say when the general election would be held; that was a matter entirely for the House. ot Shirking. Further pressed, Mr. Forbes, s^iid the Government was not shirking an election; it had been preparing for an election and had never been better prepared so far as ' candidates were eoncerned. Mr. Holland said he insisted that the bill be dealt with on the assumption that a general election would take place at the ordinary time. Labour would not stand for any postponement. Mr. Sullivan asked what was the Reform attitude but Mr Coates replied that much depended On the findings of the economic committee. It would be a mistake to look ahead bei yond the stage when the economic committee made its final recommendations. The Bill would meet the position so far as it was possible to mee-t it. Mr. Forbes said that both parties in the licensing question were agreed with the proposals in the Bill. The position was so serious that they should brush aside any consideration of a general election. ■4n amendment by Mr. F. Langstone (Waimarino), to provide that the advertising of liquor in any newspaper in or out of *a no-license area, §hould not be deemed to be soliciting orders for liquor, was defeated by 39 to 22. The Bill was passed.