ELECTION ISSUE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 238, 8 October 1941, Page 8

ELECTION ISSUE

VEIL OF MYSTERY

OPINION CHANGES

BOTH PARTIES DIVIDED

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. | A veil of mystery cloaks the election issue at the present time. At the end of last week, when it was known that the Prime Minister, ~ F . r£ * ser . and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Holland, had met and had had a talk, there appeared to be indications of the possibilitv of an extension of the life of the present Parliament and the avoidance in this way of a general election. at least before the end of the present year. Since then both parties have held caucus meetings, the Government one extending into two sittings vesterdav. -

Although no official pronouncement has been made by the respective leaders giving any semblance of a guide as. to the possible outcome of . the whole situation, the atmosphere in the lobbies has undergone some change since Saturday and there has been a swing back favouring an election.

The whole position, from what can be gathered, is most unusual, in that there would appear to be a division of opinion among the members of both parties on the question of whether an election should be held this year in the ordinarv course of events. One thing that does seem to stand out clearly is that m view of the fact that the session is expected to conclude at anv earlv date, an announcement, if it is to be made from the floor of the House, cannot now be long dela% ed.