IF PARTIES TIE--

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22196, 5 December 1946, Page 4

IF PARTIES TIE--

ELECTION_ VOTING POSITION UNTENABLE NEW POLL PROBABLE Assuming that the National and Labour parties dead-heated in the general election—each securing 40 seats —which would be the Government? In view of the present state of the poll, with an upset nossible in 11 seats, such a question, although improbable. cannot be overlooked says the Auckland Star. The answer is that the Government would remain in office, but its position would be virtually untenable, and constitutional authorities agree that a fresh anneal to the country would become inevitable, as neither pre would have a working majority. Finding a Speaker In ihe first office Parliament could -ot function without a Sneaker, - ■ would have to be appointed from eilber the Government’s ranks or those of the Omosition. Lova'fv m nart.v and its leader among the National members elected is such that any defection in order to convenience the Government is regarded as extremely unlikelv. Therefore if the Government selected the Sneaker frrm its own personnel in Parliament it would be in a minority of one at least : n a no-con-fidcnce motion.

But the precarious position of the Government would extend further than that. A “safe majority" in the House roust make allowance for non-atten-dance of members through illness, losses through dpnth or retirement, occasioning a by-eiection, and other contingencies.

One of these contingencies is the freouent need for the Government to be represented by a Minister abroad. If the Government could command a maioi-itv of only two or three votes a Minister could go overseas only if ‘‘a pair” were arranged. That might be nossible in a national emergency, but the case would be rare and there would be no obligation on the Leader of the Opposition to sanction it. New Flection Only Solution

Embarrassed at every move, the Government would have no option but again to submit itself to the electors. For the first time for many years no Independent, able to swing his vote either way and, in a situation as described, hold the balance of power, will sit in the new Parliament. And the absence of any third party or group similaly precludes any possibility of “ganging up” with either the Government or the Opposition Instances when a government’s fate has hung in the balance are not unknown in New Zealand’s political r - tory. The elections in 1011 were inconclusive. Polling resulted: Liberals, including three Maori members, .'l6: Reform 37; Labour 4; Independent Liberals, 2; Maori Independent. 1.