PARLIAMENT'S LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 172, 20 July 1916, Page 2

PARLIAMENT'S LIFE.

WILL IT BE EXTENDED? ezarERAL election problem. GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. (Received 2.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 19. In tlie House of Commons Mr. Herbert Samuel moved to. set up a. Kegistration Committee to report on tie pre■pfiration of a new electoral register, including tihe names of the troops, at a cost of £300.000. The registration would necessitate 20,000 canvassers. He deprecated a general election in "wartime It was not likely that Germany would grant an armistice to enable British troops to vote. Sir Edward Carson protested the •opera boufic manner In which" Mr. Samuel had treated the matter. He deprecated the belief that a general election was impossible in wax time.

The ..question of giving soldiers the vote had been solved by Australia and Canada. The proposed committee was a. farce. Mr. Chiwchill described Mr. Samuel's speech as one long sneer. Mr. Asquitn, in view of criticismß, ■withdrew the motion. He denied that tilie Government intended to delegate to the committee the decision as to whether a general election was desirable in .September, when fihe present Parliament ends. He promised that the Government would oonsider the matter, and if possible bring concrete proposals before the Houee.