NO SNAP ELECTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20959, 5 December 1942, Page 2

NO SNAP ELECTION

PREMIER’S ASSURANCE UNFOUNDED RUMOURS CHRISTCHURCH CONTEST (P.R.) WELLINGTON. Dec. 5. A brief reference to the coming byelection for the Christchurch East and (ho possibility or a general election was made in the House of Representatives yesterday. When the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, was suggesting the reassembly of Parliament for* a new session on February 24 next, Mr. J. A. Lee (Dem. Lab., Grey Lynn), asked: “What about the date of the Christchurch by-election?” Mr. Fraser said he did not know that any member of the House was interested in such a trivial matter. (Laughter.) The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, said that there were widespread rumours of a general election going around, but he did' not know where they were coming from.

Mr. Fraser said he did not know cither. “There will not be anything in the way of a snap election or anything of that kind,” he added:

The Prime Minister mentioned the difficulties in the way of preparing- the •rolls and making it possible for members of the forces overseas to vote at the Christchurch by-electiori, and' that, was the reason it was impossible to hold the poll before Christmas. The latest suggestion, was that' the byelection should be held in the second week in February, but he wanted the date to be either the last, week in January or the first week in February. Mr. Holland: That is- all right for us.

Mr. Fraser added that there was a great shortage of paper for propaganda- and arrangement's for supplies would have to be made that would be fair to all candidates.