DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 16 October 1941, Page 4

DAY IN PARLIAMENT

ELECTION POSTPONED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, This Day. The passage of the Prolongation of Parliament Bill by the unanimous vote of members, which extends the life of Parliament for one year from Ist November, was the main feature in yesterday’s proceedings of the House of Representatives. Moving the second reading of the measure, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, expressed his conviction that m view of the present war situation the vast majority of the people did not desire an election. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, who followed him declared that an election ut the present time was unthinkable and he pledged the support of his party for the Bill, adding that should a division be required he and his colleagues would vote lor it with the Government. He contended that a non-party Government would be preferable for the conduct of the war, but on this point the Prime Minister, in his speech, said that at the moment the promotion of a National Government was impossible. Correspondence which passed between Mr Fraser and Mr Holland during the negotiations in the past ten days was read and this disclosed that the Prime Minister bad promised to use his influence to reduce party legislation to a minimum during the next twelve months. After the passing of the Bill, last night, the House adjourned until to-day. During the afternoon formal business was taken and reports of committees presented. In the Legislative CouncD the Auckland Community Welfare Centre and Auckland City Empowering Bill was passed.