GENERAL ELECTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 February 1943, Page 3

GENERAL ELECTION

TO BE HELD THIS YEAR BUT DATE NOT FIXED DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. BUDGET TO BE BROUGHT DOWN FIRST. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A decision to hold a general election this year was reached in the House of Representatives yesterday, when the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, submitted a motion to the effect that Parliament be dissolved not later than November 1, 1943. The motion was carried on the voices with Sir Apirana Ngata (Opposition, Eastern Maori) dissenting. The Prime Minister recounted the circumstances under which the life of Parliament had been extended, and said that in view of the improved war situation the Government felt it was its duty to go to the country. In reply to the Leadei' of the Opposition, Mr Holland, the Prime Minister said he could not fix an appropriate date as a great deal depended on circumstances. He could, however, give an undertaking that if Mr Holland and Mr Lowry (Government, Otaki) were to go abroad as members of an Empire parliamentary delegation to the United Kingdom there would be no election in their absence. The Prime Minister said he did not doubt that the motion would be accepted by the House as it was in accord with the provisions of the Act prolonging the life of Parliament last year. In tabling the motion the Government was taking the first opportunity available in this new session to consult the House. With the improvement of the war situation it became necessary to place before the electors the record of the Government and get the country’s opinion on its legislative and administrative policy. A WARNING. “I wish to sound a warning, not necessarily to the members of the House, but to the country,” continued the Prime Minister. “It would be fatal to our war effort and to our future war activities inside and outside the country if this motion for an election was to be construed as a reason for complacency and letting up and folding our arms and thinking everything is _ all right. Everything is not yet all right, and there is a grim and hard struggle before us. We are thankful for the progress we have made, but our shores are not immune from offensive attacks by the enemy by any manner of means.” In deciding on an election consideration had to be given to avoid as far as possible casualty lists coming to hand in the midst of it, said Mr Fraser. “I agree with the Prime Minister that this is not the time for complacency,” said Mr Holland. “I am sure the people of New Zealand will not adopt a complacent view till the war is finally won.” The responsibility of moving for an election lay with the Government, and it had decided on one this year. “It would be in the best interests of the country if the date or an approximate date could be announced at the earliest possible moment,” Mr Holland continued. “Elections have an unsettling effect on domestic economy, and I hope the Prime Minister will be able to give a date, say, within the next month.” CAMPAIGNING FACILITIES. Mr Holland also suggested that there be no discrimination in the allocation of facilities for organising and campaigning. He knew there were difficulties in supplies of paper and petrol, but it would be entirely wrong and against democratic principles if the party in office dictated to other parties what supplies they could have. “At the last election there was what I consider an unfair allocation of broadcasting facilities, the Government having 10 broadcasts and the Opposition six.” “I would also make a plea that the Sunday night broadcasts which many people regard as pure propaganda should cease pending the election,” said Mr Holland. He also asked for reasonable treatment of party organisers. The Government party had a widespread organisation consistently operating, but the National Party only brought its organisation up to full pitch during the election. That should be considered when petrol was being allocated. His party had been applying for gas producers for motor transport in those districts where there was no rail transport. PAPER AND PETROL. The Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, said that the only interpretation that could be placed on the Leader of the Opposition’s plea for a fair allocation of paper and petrol was that there had not been that before. Absolute equality of treatment had been meted out to candidates of all parties in byelections that had been held. The opinion that something was to be said for fixing approximately a date for the election was expressed by Mr Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn), who added that men and women in uniform should get the vote. He suggested that the radio be used to urge people to get on the roll. EXCEPTION TAKEN. Exception to the holding of an election during the war was taken by Sir Apirana Ngata. “I do not think we should have a war here while there is a bigger one overseas,” added Sir Apirana. “I am very sorry there is to be an election, and it will engender that complacency against which the Prime Minister has warned us. The Prime Minister knows how difficult it has been to bring the Maori war effort up to the stage it is now, and if there is to be a political fight the good work that has been done will be lost. Minor differences are bound to come uppermost in an election fight and cause bad blood. Mr Schramm (Government, Auckland East) said that if Sir Apirana Ngata’s suggestion were adopted there might be no general election for several years, and no Government would be justified in remaining in office like that without a mandate from the people. There had been general elections in other British countries and byelections here since the outbreak of war. PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. Replying to the debate, the Prime Minister said the War Administration failed and Ministers resigned from it. When that happened no Government in fairness to the people of the country or with self-respect could con-

tinue in office in defiance of a considerable section of public opinion. The Prime Minister said the question of men in uniform would be looked into. Everything would be done to release men in uniform to contest the election. Of course men in the Middle East would be unable to return, but everything would be done to facilitate the return of men handy to New Zealand. The principle involved in giving the vote to the 18-year-olds would have to be closely and critically examined. All their instincts were to agree with it. „ On the question of censorship during an election campaign the Prime Minister said the whole matter of what should be censored was quite simple. They had to avoid anything which would demoralise the country on the one hand, or give information to the enemy on security matters on the other. He was, however, sure that an election campaign could be fought within those limits and still leave a very wide field of political criticism open to the parties. CANNOT FIX ELECTION DATE. “I cannot say at the moment when the date of the election will be,” said Mr Fraser, answering the Leader of the Opposition. “A great deal will depend on how matters go. A good deal will also depend on when the Government can bring the finances of the country before the House, because the House and the country are entitled to know how the country’s money is being spent. I therefore cannot give a promise except to say that if the Leader of the Opposition and the mepber for Otaki go abroad to represent the country at the meeting of the Empire Parliamentary Association in London, we will take steps to see that the election will not take place while they are away. That is only fair.” The motion was carried on the voices, Sir Apirana Ngata alone dissenting.