PARTIES AND THE ELECTION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 40, 17 February 1943, Page 2

PARTIES AND THE ELECTION

WHEN the general election, due at the end of 1941, was postponed, it was because of the war situation. When it was postponed a second time it was because of a bargain between the Government and the Opposition, a bargain which was part and parcel of the agreement to form a War Administration. The original bargain, be it remembered, provided that no election should Jpe held until after the war, but, purely because of the protests of the Press and public, it was slightly modified, so that the House of Representatives once a year must review the decision. The War Administration did not last long, but although since it ceased to exist there has been a meeting of Parliament neither Government nor Opposition has shown any anxiety to restate its views on the election question. It is time for both to do so, and the proper course for them both is to repeal, at the forthcoming session, the Act which they passed in circumstances that have passed away. A Parliament which has outlived the term for which it was elected cannot justify its continuance except on the ground of war necessity, and if the immediate threat to New Zealand has receded sufficiently to enable the home defence forces to be reduced the objection to holding an election is considerably weakened. The Hon. Mr. Barclay made a reference to the question at Hikurangi on Monday. He said that "if the war goes on as at present I think an election this year would be a good idea, and .I am half expecting it." A good idea! Anyone might think that the Government, or Parliament, would be conferring a favour on the electors by belatedly submitting to their judgment. Mr. Barclay should have said that it was Parliament's plain duty to bring about a dissolution', and an election without a day's avoidable delay. He did not .say it, nor has any Opposition'member said it. Is the public to understand that, although the War Administration failed, the electionpostponement bargain still subsists?