THE NEXT ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16300, 5 August 1916, Page 8

THE NEXT ELECTIONS.

PROPOSED POSTPONEMENT.

THIRD READING CARRIED

REASONS FOR THE STEP.

[BT TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON. Friday. ' In moving the second reading of the Parliamentary Elections Postponement Bill, in the House of Representative?, this evening, the Prime Minister said the Bill required little explanation. It proposed to ! extend the life of Parliament for one year. It had been decided to hold the election shortly after the war started, and he believed the right thing had been done, but we were in a different position now. The affairs of the country now were administered by a National Cabinet, and the decision in the House a few night ago proved that tie House was convinced that the National Cabinet had been a success. At all events, an election could not be held at the present time without raising the party issue, and he believed it would! be nothing short of criminal to do that while the war was on. Postponement could not well be decided on next vear, and the election could not be postponed for six months, as that would bring the elections into the middle of winter, which would involve a most unpleasant experience to all concerned. Another reason for postponing the election was the fact that up to the present we had sent away 50,000 met, and if the war lasted another year a great many more men would have gone, and he thought it would be most unfair to hold an election while our men were away. There was a proposal in England to postpone the elections there, and although the reasons for postponement might not be so good in this country he thought the reasons were strong" and obvious enough. Concession to the Trade. Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) pointed out that the postponement of the elections involved the postponement of the licensing poll, which was a concession of enormous value to the trade. He acknowledged the pressure of war conditions, but he looked to the National Cabinet to hold the balance fairly and in some way give a concession of equal value to the temperance party. He was not prepared to say what form that concession should take, but he asked the Prime Minister to declare, after the second reading was oassed, what Cabinet was prepared to do. Mr. G. V. Pearce (Patea) said if they wanted an argument in favour of the Bill they could find it in the conrlict between the" liquor trade and the temperance party at the last election. Financial Considerations. Sir Joseph Ward said he was perfectly consistent, because he never believed in holding an election during the war- He thought it an inhuman proposal to hold an election while almost every family in the Dominion was either mourning someone killed or wounded, or was in a state • of deepest anxiety concerning some dear one on the field of battle. It was • improper to hold an election with over ' 50.000 of cur men away, and it also was impossible to hold an election in this country without making at least a year's preparation. As it was quite uncertain at present when peace would be de- > clared, it was impossible to begin to make these preparations. Canada already had passed a similar Act, and there was .i proposal to postpone the elections in England. One of the most weighty reasons, however, why the elections should be postponed -was the fact that in five weeks we would be asking the people of . the country to subscribe towards an , £B.ooo,ooo'oan, and we might have to ask for more before the war is over. He considered it most unwise to have people's 1 minds diverted by the turmoil of elections ■ while the country had to face grave finani cial problems and the Empire was in the throes of the greatest war in the history , of the world.

Mr. L. M. Isitt supported the Bill. Position Regarding Licensing. Mr. G. J. Anderson (Mataura) favoured the Bill, but claimed that as compensation for the extension of a year's life given to the liquor trade the Government should next Session reduce the hours (luring which liquor might be sold. Mr. E. Newman (Rangitikei) thought if the war ended within 12 months the Bill should not be operative. Several members took part in the debate. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) stating that it would be a national calamity to hold the elections during the war. I The Hon. G. W. Russell said the Bill was not intended to deal with licensing legislation in any way. There was provision in the present law that if a Parliamentary election were held within two years the licensing poll would not be held. In that case the trade would have five years' grace. Would members suggest thai, in that case some compensation should be given to the temperance party? After further debate, the second reading was carried by 41 votes to 16. The Division List. The following is the division list on ( the second reading — Ayes (41): Allen, Anderson, Bollard, Buddo, Buick, Dickson (2), Ell, W. Field, Fraser, Glover, Guthrie, Hanan, Harris, Henare. Herdman, Hemes, Hunter, Hudson, Isitt, Jennings, Mac Donald, McNab. Malcolm, Mander, Massey, Myers, E. Newman, Nosworthy. Okey. Poland, Pomare, R. IT. Rhodes, Russell, Scott, Statham, Stewart., Sykes, Thomson, Ward, Young. Noes (16) : Anstey, Graigie, T. Field,' Fletcher, Hindmnrsh. McComb.s. Dr. Newman, Pavne. T. W. Rhodes, Talbot, Veitch, Walker, Webb, Wilford, Wittv, Wright. The Bill was then read the third time and passed.