Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1942. WARTIME ELECTIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 307, 9 October 1942, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1942. WARTIME ELECTIONS.

In view of the question of a general election having been brought before the people of New Zealand as a result of the termination of the War Administration it is of interest to consider the position in Britain and in the United States. In Great Britain, where there is a strong and ably-led National Government, a general election has again been wisely postponed. It will be observed that the postponement is for a year only, so that the political position may be shortly reviewed in the light of the development of the war. On November 3 of this year American citizens, in accordance with the fixed requirements of their Constitution, will elect new members for the whole of the House of -Representatives and for one-third of the Senate. The Constitution cannot be altered in this respect because the country is at war. The United States will soon have an opportunity of passing judgment on the Isolationists —men like Mr Hamilton Fish, who asserted on his return from Germany in 1939 that his countrymen had nothing to fear from Hitler,' and who blatantly opposed every measure to help the Democracies. Nevertheless, in the “primary” in his State, Mr Fish has received Republican endorsement. The latest Gallup poll indicates that the Democrats may well add six to ten seats to their present majority. As a matter of more than American interest, it is important to note that the United States House of Representatives recently passed and sent to the Senate a measure giving absent soldiers the vote. It is of interest to record that the present year is notable for a past election in an enemy country. 'On April 30 the Japanese elected their representatives to the House oi Representatives, the Government securing 377 of the 466 seats. Independent candidates were permitted, and apparently won certain seats.