ELECTION YEAR CONUNDRUM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 362, 24 January 1941, Page 4

ELECTION YEAR CONUNDRUM

Sir,—There is talk about a general election being held as usual at the end of this year, although so many thousand soldiers are overseas. 1 read that eight M.P's are in the Forces—four from each of the main political parties. One suggestion is that these soldier M.P*is should be returned unopposed, seeing that they cannot go electioneering. We have had an argument - among local bush lawyers as to whether a soldier or sailor can stand for Parliament. Some say that members of the Armed Forces are supposed to be i.on-political. But pethaps that applies only to the Regular Army. Can you tell me whether, to give a local example,, it would be in order for local electors to nominate, say, Lieut.-Col. Prideaux and Lieut. Brabant in oppo-> sition to Lieut. Hultquist, M.P. for Bay of Plenty? That be an "All Egypt" < selection. I not think that , any soldier-%ot#*try and rob his cobber of even a seat in Parliament,, so there is no fear of the above happening. But could it happen? I had an idea that soldiers were prevented by King's Regulations from attaching themselves to political parlies, but seeing as our Government has allowed other r civil servants lo stand for Parliament Ihere is no reason why soldiers should not. It all seems a bit of a mix up, so the best thing ,is to win the war before the election is held, and here's hoping the boys are in Berlin before the end of 1941. Yours etc., B, O. PLENTY^

OIIOPE Sir, —I read in your advertising columns a notice calling a meeting of the members of the Ohope Progress League. Mr Canning and Mr Lysaght must surely know that the Ohope Progress League is defunct. Its money (£SO) has I presume,, been paid to the Treasurer of the newly formed amalgamated Society. There could not be a meeting of the Ohope Progress League. Yours etc., \ . RATEPAYER WHO KNOWS.