MOTION FOR ELECTION

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23882, 26 February 1943, Page 4

MOTION FOR ELECTION

House Approves Proposal

ONE DISSENTIENT VOTE

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, February 25. The motion for the holding of a General Election this year was passed by the House of Representatives to-day with one dissentient voice, that of the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata (Eastern Maori), and it is likely that the date will be announced at the earliest opportunity. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), who put the motion, said that the election proposal was entirely in accordance with the spirit of the arrangement made last year, when the prolongation of Parliament was before the House, and it had been indicated that the Government would not shelter behind the bill placed on the Statute Book. Just as it had been necessary to prolong the duration of Parliament in time of stress, so it became necessary now to take the opportunity of consulting the electors and getting their opinion on the legislative and administrative actions, and the policy of the Government.

Mr Fraser said he wished to strike a warning note. He said that it would be fatal to the war effort and to activities inside and outside the country if the motion were to be construed as a reason for complacency. There was still a grim, hard struggle ahead and there was cause to be thankful for the progress made, and to remember that the country’s shores were not yet safe from the'possible attention of the enemy. , . The Leader of the Opposition iMr S. G. Holland) said that while the public would be reassured of the favourable progress of the war, he was sure the people would never be complacent till the war was over. The Government had decided that there would be an election this year, and that was all there was to be said about it. It would be in the interests of New Zealand if the date could be announced at the earliest possible moment, as elections had a peculiar effect on the economy of the country in many ways. Therefore he would urge the Prime Minister to say within a month the date on which the election would be held. Fairness in Election

If he was in order, Mr Holland said he would make a plea for absolute fairness of treatment in this election. He realised that it was important to control supplies of paper and petrol in an election, but it had to be remembered that the country had a party Government and it seemed entirely wrong and against the democratic principle for one party to have the say on what the other party was to get. Mr Holland referred, specifically, to the use of broadcasting in the last election. He said he would also like to see the Sunday “propaganda” radio addresses cease if there was to be an election. His party, he said, was entitled, in parts ox the country where there was no rail, for instance, to modern means of motor transport, and he asked that gas producers and petrol be made available equally to the said that he would suggest postponing further Legislative Council appointments till after the electl(The Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) said the only interpretation that could be put on Mr Holland s remarks about allocations was that there had not been equal treatment in the past. He could assure Mr Holland that there had been absolute equality. Mr F. Langstone (Labour, Waimarino): Does that include newspaper reports, too? Mr F. W. Doidge (National, Tauranga): In the Christchurch East byelcction Labour had 10 columns for one. . , Mr Sullivan (smiling) said he had no complaints to make about that. ,He added that as for broadcasting, he was not in charge of that, but those responsible in that election possibly brought in the question of merit. Candidates In Forces Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour. Grey Lynn) asked whether candidates in khaki would get leave to contest the elections, and whether 18-year-olds in khaki, who were considered good enough to serve their country, would be considered good enough also to vote. He alco said that the rolls were in a queer state. It seemed that it was only when the trade and prohibition party came into the fight that the country got complete rolls. He further suggested that members of the House should have the o portunity of looking at the news bulletin for members of the forces overseas if any political news were included. Mr Lee said that as for allocations, there had been a very late announcement about petrol in the Christchurch East by-election. Mr A. G. Osborne (Labour, Onehunga) said his party had not heard that 100 gallons of petrol would bo available till the day before the by-election and had not known till then that even 30 was to be available. Opposition To Motion

The Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata, opposing the motion, said he was one of those who thought there should not be a local war while a big war was going on overseas. He felt that the proposal would engender complacency and that much of the work in the Maori war effort would be undone if there was to be a political war.

It should be known, Sir Apirana Ngata said, that on the rolls there were some hundreds of Maoris who were not entitled to be on the rolls. He did not know where the abuse had crept in. Some years ago he had challenged 180 names on the Rotorua rolls. Sir Apirana Ngata said that the election would also raise difficulty in the censorship in discussion on the war. Mr F. W. Schramm (Labour, Auckland East), disagreeing. said that on Sir Apirana Ngata’s argument, there would not be an election in years. No Government would be justified in continuing without a mandate from the people. Prime Minister’s Reply

Mr Fraser, in reply, said that the War Administration had failed and some members had resigned. When that occurred it was clear that no Government elected for three years could, without the unanimous consent of both main parties, continue without a loss of self-respect. Mr Fraser said that the principle of votes for 18-year-olds would have to be examined. The question of the rolls would be referred to the chief electoral officer. Censorship was only a question of what would demoralise the country and he was sure Sir Apirana Ngata’s own good sense would guide him. The election date could not be decided for the moment, much depending on how matters went and when the Financial Statement could bo brought before .ho House. The election would not be held while Parliamentary delegates were in London. As for appointments to the Legislative Council, they would have to be for the usual seven-year-term.

After the passing of the motion. Mr Fraser said that after the start of the Address-in-Replv debate to-night the House would adjourn till Wednesday next week.