REASON GIVEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 89, 12 October 1937, Page 10

REASON GIVEN

ELECTION CHALLENGE

OPPOSITION REPLY

FOUR-YEAR T.ERM

As the Government ha<S not yet been in office two years »and had not had an opportunity, to administer its laws to the fullest extent, there was no argument in favour of an early electicn, the Leader of the Opposition (t3j e Hon. Adam Hamilton) stated \ today, when, making a reply to the'< Prime Minister's challenge to name the date of the next election. If the Prime Minister wished to involve ■ the country in the expense and confusion of a General Election, said Mr. Hamilton, that was his* concern and responsibility. Mr. Hi| milton also suggested that the term of Parliament should be for Sour years. "As the laws stands at present,", sale Mr. Hamilton, "the term of Parliament is four years, and it is difficult toj set what the Prime Minister has in inline when challenging us to name the <Vat« of the next election. The Governmisni hasbeen in office less than two years and while a great deal of legislation has been placed on the Statute Boq k the country has not yet had the opp<ir ttinity of seeing the full effect of thjis legislation; nor has the Government had an opportunity of fully administering the laws it has made. As far ais I can see, no: change has occurred which would suggest an immediate election* The Government has a majority in both Houses, and may pass aiiy legislation it desires. c OPPOSITION READY. "I have made it clear on several occasions that the Opposition would not be "disturbed by the possibility of an election at any time," Mr. Hamilton continued, "but if the Prime Minister wishes to involve the country in the expense and confusion necessarily associated Avith an election, then that must be his concern and'responsibility. "General Elections should be held at definite intervals determined by Act," Mr. Hamilton declared, "and should be fought upon real issues and not upon political challenges. "Politics concern issues hot to be played with, for the governing of a country is a serious business. I feel that , this Is not the time to raise side issues in the political mind, but it is a .time , when the Government and Parliament should concentrate upon solving some of the serious problems with which this country is faced." Mr. -Hamilton said that his opinion was that four years should be the normal life of a Parliament, as he considers that four years were necessary for iany Government to carry into effect the programme it placed before the electors, and experience its full consequences, whether good or eviL If the present Government chose to reduce the term to three years, as had been promised by the Prime Minister, that wos their own concern. "STILL STANDS" : MR. SAVAGE'S COMMENT NOT RUNNING AWAY FEELING OF THE PEOPLE ."The challenge still stands," stated the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage),.when the comments of the Leader of the Opposition* were referred to him. The statement that the country had not yet had an opportunity of seeing, the lull effect of the legislation was a contradiction of what Mr. Hamilton was saying in the House, because Mr. Hamilton had been complaining of the feeling in the country and warning the Government that an election was approaching, said Mr. Savage. "I said 'Let it come, the sooner the better — the . hon. gentleman can name the day,' " he continued. "That was how my challenge came. For the benefit of the honourable gentleman, the challenge still stands. We are not running'away from it. "Of course, we could do as our predecessors did. We could extend our own lives for five or six years, if necessary, bccause we have an overwhelming: majority in the House. We could snap our fingers at the country, hut that is not our way of doing things. When we feel that the country is dissatisfied with our methods, the sooner we go to them the better, and explain our stewardship—not leave it to the Opposition to do, "This session the law will be altered to make provision for a three-year term of Parliament. That is accepted by everybody. Our complaint was not against-the period, but against the methods employed in altering that period. We argued then, and say now, that no Government is right in extending the life of Parliament without consulting the people. Our pledge was to take it back to three years, and that there would be no alteration without the consent of the people. And that stands., ELECTION IF THE PEOPLE WANT IT. When there is anything which appears like an expression by the people of a desire ,for an election it will take place. The Opposition should be in a position to have some knowledge of what the country thinks. We were entitled to believe that Mr. Hamilton was. expressing the opinion of a large section of the community, and if a large section of the community want an election, we will find a way to gel it one." Mr. Savage added that they had been told by the Opposition that money was leaving the country, and if whal was said was true the sooner there was an election the better for every body. "We will know where we stand then," be said. "My promise to the people is that 1 am not going to lei them down in any respect. If we find that the people feel that they are being let down, or that they will be let down we will find the opportunity for then: to express their views at the ballot box. But I see no reason for that.al the moment. I suppose the Opposi tio'n must talk."