A GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1918, Page 8

A GENERAL ELECTION.

PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES.-JX THK WAV. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, Feb. 12. There is an under-current of discussion in political circles as to the possibility of a general election being held late this year or early next year. The decision on this point has to be made by the 'Ministers, who are not at all like ly to have any diflieulty in inducing a majority of members of the House of Representatives to vote for a. further postponement of the election if the National' Government thinks this course desirable. It does not follow that Ministers are anxious to delay the appra> (he electors, borne 01 mem, as a matter of fact, would like to get the election oVer this year. But they realise the practical difficulties that are in the way The feeling on botli sides of tin. Cabinet is that when the general election .comes it must be a party election. The people must be asked to choose between the Liberals and the Keforiners. If the National Government appealed to the country as a Government, and were returned to office with a Labor Opposition to sit opposite, there would be little chance pi either of the old parties reco\ering its ident.il >' later. That, at anv rate, is understood to be the view taken by the party chiefs, wdto do in profess to want a coalition. They regard the National Government as a war measure. But the political leaders feel that a partv election during the war period would be most difficult of attainment. At what stage would the National Government break up ? Could the parties break the truce that they have felt to be necessary for the prosecution of the war? Could they logically ask the electors to vote in a party spirit when a not improbable result of the election would he tlie re-constmetion of the National Government? And what could National Ministers siy about each other's administration when it is obvious that they all share the responsibility: These are some of the questions that are being put hy politicians who are considering election possibilities. There appears to he little doubt in any case that- decision regarding the election will be postponed until after the return of Mr. Masscy 1 and Sir Joseph Ward from London. The diseu/sionp that are to take place at the War ConnIcil will have an effect upon the course of political events in New Zealand.