DATE OF THE ELEGTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1269, 26 October 1911, Page 6

DATE OF THE ELEGTIONS.

. I) —— MAY BE UNUSUALLY LATE. In the House yesterday afternoon, tlio Prime Minister talked of a. possible alteration of the law in order to fit in with an unusually lato election clay. ITo said that under Section 08 of the Legislature Act, 1908, tlio present Parliament would expire on November 21. The Governor's warrant must be issued not later than November 29, and tho writs required to bo issued not later than December 1, and to bo returned not later than December 29, -including tho writs of tho second ballots. The second ballot writs were returnable within ten days of the polls in terms of Section 12 of the Second Ballot Act, 1!10S. It was customary to dissolve Parliament prior to the dato of its statutory expiration., and therefore tho present Parliament should bo dissolved two days before November 21. The second ballots, it would be seen, might run on into Christmas week and almost into tho New Year. Mr. Hnrdman: But (ho Governor can dissolve Parliament at any timo after . it rises. Tho Prime Minister replied that ho did not know when tho ITouso would rise. They were further from winding up next Saturday tlran they had appeared to bo from winding up last Saturday. Mr. Hine: How many Bills bavo you brought down since then? The Primo Minister went on to say that tho position was a very awkward one, and it might be necessary to meet it by legislation. He had had an amendment prepared for addition to tho Legislature Amendment Bill to provide that all second ballots should bo held a week after tho general election day, instead of several of them being held a fortnight after that day. Mr. Masscy: It would bo a very good thing if it could bo done. Tho Primo Minister said ho thought it could lxs done. It was impossible at. present to fix approximately tlio dato of the general election, on account of the difficulties, which were real, and not imaginary.