Fight Is On

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 462, 18 September 1928, Page 8

Fight Is On

PRE-ELECTION RITUAL

THE election fight is on, and the populace is stirred from its three years’ somnolence into political wakefulness. Sitting members of the Legislature are necessarily conducting their campaigns mostly from within the walls of the Chamber of Representatives, while others move rapidly on the open hustings. Feverish organisation work is being effected in all camps, so that when Parliament rises in a few weeks’ time, the terms of combat will be equal.

It is not unusual for the early campaign efforts of members of the House of Representatives to be cramped bS’ Parliamentary duties, because the final session of a Parliament necessarily approaches to within a few weeks of the General Election. On the other hand, the field of publicity during- a “talking” session is sufficiently wide to permit some excellent electioneering achievement, and even young members of Parliament rapidly absorb the essentials of this procedure. So the fight is on, and the electors—the people who are compelled to regis-

ter, but not forced to vote —are stirred to a mild interest in pre-election ritual. Everyone knows that a General Election is held every three years, but before this momentous event can take place a writ fixing a date of the poll and a date for the closure of nominations must be issued and circulated to returning officers. This writ is to be issued within seven days of the rising of the House, and is returnable, with the completed result of the poll, within 40 days. This allows 47 days from the dissolution of Parliament for the election campaign and the counting of votes, and, conceding the returning officers 11 days for the execution of formalities, gives candidates five weeks to woo their constituents. This is. the first General Election at which 40 days is allowed for the return

of tli© writ, the Statute px*oviding hitherto for its return within 28 days. After the writ is issued the rank-and-file members of the Legislature are no longer paid servants of the State. They become common electors seeking, along with fellow candidates, the favour of their people. CHANGING OFFICE “Have we no Parliament then?” one elector asks. We have a Government, but hardly a Parliament. Cabinet, the chosen twelve administrators of policy and public money, retains office until it is returned by the people or compelled to hand the reins of power to a new party, and urgent executive duties are performed by it during the election campaign. “When do the newly-elected men become members of Parliament?” is the next question. After the voting has been finalised a Gazette notice pronounces the fortunate ones the people’s choice, and they are then entitled to take their seats in the House, while the rejected members discard all signs of office and reflect upon the caprice of the popular will. Parliament, upon its rising, is prorogued until a definite date, and cannot sit before the appointed time. It is recorded in the annals of the New Zealand House of Representatives that a complication arose on this account about the time that Sir Joseph Ward, in his office as Prime Minister, presented the Imperial authorities with the battleship New Zealand. HISTORIC COMPLICATION The sanction of Parliament was required for the execution of some formality, and it was desired to meet a week before the appointed date. Members were called together informally, and although .Sir Frederick Lang was Speaker at the time, he could not take his place in the chair until the House elected him chairman for the informal session. Later, of course, the House met and confirmed the transactions of its unusual conclave. Before a General Election, Parliament is dissolved, but if the party in power is doubtful of its majority, the Gover-nor-General calls members about February to discuss the situation. -If, on the other hand, the majority of the party is retained, and there is no urgent call for an early meeting, the ordinary session date about the middle of the year is fixed. Mr. Speaker retains his liigh office and is paid by the State until the first session of Parliament after the election—even though by then he might have ceased to be a member of the Legislature. If the current session finishes during the first w*eek in October, the poll probably will be held at the middle or toward the end of November, but it certainly will take place later in the month than its immediate 1925 predecessor, November 4.