GENERAL ELECTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1943, Page 2

GENERAL ELECTION

MR. HOLLAND’S STATEMENT

CHRISTCHURCH, Apirl 6

“Though' the National Party is certainly not responsible for the continuance of party'government during the war, we have no option to making tlie requisite preparations now that the Government has decided that an election must be held,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. S. G. Holland) yesterday, commenting on the joint statement of the Rt. Hpn. Ji G. Coates (Minister of Armed Forces and War v Co-ordination) and the Hon.' A. Hamilton (Minister of Supply), deploring the holding of a General Election. Mr. Holland said he agreed with the two Ministers that it was deplorable that sufficient unity to avoid an election had not been reached. Lately, predictions had been made that the war in the Pacific would last at least, another three or four years, said Mr. Holland. That meant that if no election was held, a party government, elected in peace time and which had spurned any move to get genuine unity for the duration of the war, would be endowed with the unprecedented life of eight or nine years, and perhaps more. He doubted if even those persons . who felt misgivings about the holding of an election wanted that to happen. Except on motions of no-confid-ence in-the Government, when members were naturally expected to conform with their election pledges, the National Party did not place its members in strait jackets, said Mr. Holland. The former custom, by which they were expected to vote as decided by the leader, bad been ended when he became leader, and members were now free to vote according to their consciences. As an example, Mr. F. W. Doidge had spoken and voted against the extension of the life of Parliament this year, while Sir Apirana Ngata, at the last session, had protested against the holding of an election this year, yet both members remained valued members of the party. Another case was that of Mr. H. S. S. Kyle, who voted against the Opposition on the River Control and Soil Conservation Bill, as it was recognised he had a perfect right to do. “Men of independent character and fresh and vigorous outlook should certainly be welcomed in our political life,” said Mr. Holland. “The party system, however, does not exclude such men. Indeed, they are able, under it, so long as their party is not dominated by outside agencies, to exert much more influence and do more for their constituencies and New Zealand than they could possibly do as independents.” Discussing the selection of National Party candidates, Mr. Holland said the party conference last year had ruled that selections made in 1941 should be deemed to. have lapsed, the purpose being to give electorates a free hand where circumstances might have altered. Members of the party in the various electorates were now proceeding to the selection or endorsement of candidates where they had not already done so.