OCTOBER 15

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 219, 16 September 1938, Page 11

OCTOBER 15

ELECTION DAY.

SATURDAY CHOSEN. FIRST TIME IN N.Z. FOUR WEEKS' CAMPAIGN. STATEMENT BY MR. SAVAGE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON* this day. The Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, speaking in the House of Representatives this afternoon, announced that the general election will be held on Saturday. October 15. Parliament will be dissolved on September 20. The writs for the election will be issued on September 22, and +he roll? will be closed at 6 p.m. on that day. Nominations will close on October 3. The Maori elections will be held on October 14. Mr. Savage al.=o announced that broadcasting opportunities would be offered to the Government, Opposition and Independents in the proportions of C, 4 and 2. The first broadcast would be by himself on September 22 from the Wellington Town Hall, when he would announce the Government's policy. The final speeches over the air would be delivered on Friday, October 14, by the Leader of the Opposition and himself.

Mr. Savage said that the proportion of speakers was a fair basie. Oji September 2.3 a Nationalist candidate would broadcast, and the following night an Independent candidate, and so on in that order, with an adjustment a little later on to conform to the proportion of speakers. The speakers would be confined to members of the present House.

In addition the Prime Minister said he reserved the right to have access to the radio at any time to correct statements, if they were made, that amounted to "hitting below the belt."

In reply to disapproving comment from the Opposition, Mr. Savage said he was not going to abuse the privilege, and he hoped he would not have to use it, but he was not going to take underhand methods lying down.