Both Parties Divided On Election Issue

Northern Advocate, 8 October 1941, Page 6

Both Parties Divided On Election Issue

[Special to “Northern Advocate”] WELLINGTON. This Day. VEIL OF MYSTERY CLOAKS THE ELECTION ISSUE AT THE PRESENT TIME. At the end of last week when it was known that the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland) had met and had had a talk, there appeared to be an indication of the possibility of the extension of the life of the present Parliament and the avoidance in this way of a general election at least before the end of the present year. Since then both parties have held caucus meetings, the Government one extending into two sittings yesterday. Although no official pronouncement has been made by the representative leaders giving any semblance of a guide as to the possible outcome of the whole situation, the atmosphere in the lobbies has undergone some change since Saturday and there has been a swing back favouring an election. STATEMENT ON THURSDAY? The whole position, from what can be gathered, is most unusual, in that there would appear to lie a division of opinion among the members of both parties on the question of whether an election should he held this year in the ordinary course of events. Oik; thing that does seem to stand out clearly is that, in view •of the fact that the session is confidently expected to conclude on Friday, an announcement if it is to be made from the floor of the House, cannot now be long delayed. On this point it is generally considered likely that the air may be cleared by a statement tomorrow.