The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, February 25, 1943. GENERAL ELECTION.

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1943, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, February 25, 1943. GENERAL ELECTION.

If it had not been generally expected, it can at least be conjectured that the prospect of a general election in the Dominion will be generally welcomed. Nor may the main reason be simply a concern for constitutional othodoxy. It is rather that this prospect will be linked in every mind with another. The war outlook it is which, by its undoubted improvement from the Allied standpoint, has justified the Government in acting upon its assurance, at the time they previously were deferred, that the elections would be held as soon as the war situation had sufficiently eased. It will berecalled of course, that quite a considerable proportion of the Government Party in Parliament had been averse to any postponement. Members of the Opposition, indeed, were not so anxious as this section of the Government Party for elections, though they were anxious enough for an alternative in the. shape of a Coalition or National Government. The present session, which presumably will not be the last of the present Parliament must mainly b’e occupied by matters associated with the war -effort. Ihe interests of those in the forces, and the rehabilitation and pensions of those discharged, or about to complete their service with t.h'e forces. The speech yesterday of the Governar-Gen-eral gave Parliament a most reassuring account of our defence measures, along with a justifiably optimistic review of the whole war effort of the United Nations. It reflected accurately the wishes of the nation to co-operate with the Australian and American forces' in overcoming the Japanese, and also the pride of the people in the fame so bravely won by the New Zealand Division, Pakeha and Maori, in the victorious campaigns of the. Eighth Army. Likewise did the speech voice popular admiration of the heroic manner in which tire Red Army is turning the tables on the enemy. The speech concluded with an intimation of the gen'eral elections, but the real cue thereto was earlier given in the passage saying that “on all fronts the Allies have been able to abandon the defensive strategy that was forced upon them in the, early stages of the war and to prepare for a general attack on the aggressors.” In an atmosphere of optimism with the Allies going to the attack in all directions, the electors will be in a mood to take a hopeful view and a decision that is entirely constructive in conception. Referring to our own defence preparations, and our co-operation in particular with the Americans, the Governor-General did not go into detail, but' an American Congressman at about the same, time was telling* fellow legislators of New' Zealand having built over a hundred .aerodromes for the use of Am'erica’s forces, his particular 1 reflection being that under the Lease-Lend system we wede paid for the work, and will, into the bargain, retain the aerodromes! The Prime Minister is able still to say that our “pay as you go” policy has liquidated half of the war debt, and it there are such things as aerodromes to be reckoned on the assets side. New Zealand will come better out of 'the ordeal than had earlier appeared to be a possibility. The war, however, has yet to b’e won, and is meantime absorbing half of the national income, so that the growth of debt ought thereby to be greatly mitigated. It is yet no time, indeed, for crowing over the conduct of the national wareffort, because that effort must still bje carried to finality, and this is going to entail sacrifices no less than those made already. The fundamental fact is, however, that the Dominion’s struggle has given results that have

exceeded the highest expectations, and has been unquestionably upon the best lines throughout. The Government was found to have been better prepared for the crisis than very many had either .known or expected. No doubt, its sense of constitutional responsibility in deciding for a general election this, year has been accompanied by a. consciousness on tb.e part of the Government that it can now go to the country with a confidence as great as it has ever done.