Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1943. AN ELECTION THIS YEAR?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 February 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1943. AN ELECTION THIS YEAR?

ACCORDING to a Wellington message, a general election this X year appears to be regarded generally as a possibility. It is likely that the opinion thus summed up is that of politicians. There is every indication that a great majority of the people of the Dominion continue to regard with a complete lack df enthusiasm the idea of holding an election in war time. It. may be true that an election this year would be somewhat less disturbing and damaging than a similar contest, would have been in days even more critical than those through which we’are now passing, but it has still to be demonstrated that an attempt, in existing conditions, to divide the country politically, is worth while and can be made to serve any useful and practical purpose.

On the central and commanding issue of putting the greatest possible energy and resolution into the conduct of the war there is no difference of opinion worth mentioning. Undoubtedly there are particulars in which the organisation of resources and management of affairs in these days of war might be improved upon, but whether much is likely to be accomplished in that direction by holding an election this year is extremely doubtful. A weakness of the existing position, and one that would at least water down the significance of an election, is that Parliament, in the war period, has become for the time being little more than a cipher element in our national organisation.

In these fateful years the meetings of Parliament have been fairly frequent, but brief, and of small effect. A more alert and vigorous Parliament, animated by a sense of serious responsibility, might have done much, amongst other things, to bring about a more effective organisation and use of manpower, to expedite economic stabilisation and to set the narrowest practicable limits to the monetary inflation which, in spite of the comforting assurances of official statistics, is proceeding apace. As against these and other opportunities it has to be recognised that Parliament, during the war period, has for all practical purposes fallen increasingly into the background.

Looking at, the facts, it may be supposed, as has been said, that if an election is held this year, it will take place at the instance rather of politicians than of the community at large. Opponents of the Government evidently are of opinion that it has forfeited a great deal of electoral support. On the other hand, the Government, with a more or less serious party split as one ol: its difficulties, may consider it better tactics to appeal to the country in the early future than to put off the day of reckoning until the war is over.