THE NEXT ELECTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10134, 11 June 1924, Page 5

THE NEXT ELECTION.

MR G. W. FORBES* VIEWS. "I read in the paper the other day that Mr Massey said that he did not think there would be an election this year, and that he did not think the members wanted an election, but I would not be at all surprised to see an election before the full term of, the present Parliament," said Mr Forbes at a Liberal rally last night. Mr Forbes co'ntinued that at last election Mr Massey returned with a party of 38 members. There was no doubt about that, but three members returned by Liberal votes had gone over to the Reform Party. These men had said that if they turned Mr Massey out the Labour Party might get control, or something very dreadful would happen if another election was precipitated so soon after the general election. That was their opinion, but his opinion was that no party returned in a minorityhad a right to govern the country. In the Old Country the Liberal Party did not mind the Labour Party carrying on meanwhile, so long as it did not attempt anything that conflicted with the ideals of true Liberalism. After the big elections in Britain Mr Baldwin, unlike Mr Massey, recognised his defeat. Although his was yet the strongest party, Mr Baldwin stepped down and the Labour Party took office. As far as New Zealand was concerned, the Labour Party had seventeen members, and if the party obtained sufficient members to run the Government of the country it was entitled to do so, but if it tried to do anything against the interests of the country it would not remain in power very long.