WHAT WILL DATE BE?

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 46, 31 August 1928, Page 10

WHAT WILL DATE BE?

MR. COATES QUESTIONED A further unsuccessful endeavour was inado iv thq Houso of Representatives yesterday by the Leader of the Opposition to draw tho Prime Minister as to the date of the General Dice-, tion. Mr. Holland asked Mr. Coates whether he had seen the cablegram in that evening's paper to tho effect that tho Primo Minister of Australia, Mr. Bruce, had announced that the Federal elections would be held on 17th November. The Minister of Lauds (tho Hou. A. D. M'Leod) suggested that porhaps tho New Zealand elections would be held on the same date. Mr. Holland: "Oh, no. That is a Saturday, and our elections take place ou a Thursday." He asked the Primo Minister whether ho would follow the very sensiblo method followed by Mr. Bruce, a%d give ample- notice of tho date of the election. "I suppose it is fail-," he added, "to ask whether it is not a fact that our election won't be held later than that dato. That being so, the Primo Minister might agreo to at once take the country into his confidence and let .everybody know tho exact date on which the election will be held, the 7th, 14th, or 21st November." The Prime Minister remarked that the Leader of tho Opposition might have speculated a couple of weeks later and still been, within range. The difference between Australia- and New. Zealand was that tho New Zealand Parliament was in session, and it was difficult to fix tho date of the election so i far ahead while Parliament was sitting. Mr'. W. Parry (Auckland Central): "Haven't you arranged the date yet?',' "Wo are in a difficult position,"' said Mr. Coates, "the National Party say it will be a short session . " Mr. Holland: "Does the Prime Minister say tho date is not fixed so far as he is concerned?" ■ . Mr. Coates replied that approximately ho had fixed the date, but he was not going to make it public until he was perfectly, certain when the session was going to end. Their first duty was to, attend to the business of tho country while Parliament was in session. . . : . - Mr. Holland expressed tho hope that the date would not be mado too close to Christmas. , "I can assure the honourable gentleman," said Mr. Coates, "that the dato will not interfere with business." Mr. E. J. Howard ~ (Christchurch South): "You expect .tq ( get further ■round the corner?" Mr. Coates: "We are fight on top of tho cliff now."