DATE OF ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20987, 25 September 1931, Page 8

DATE OF ELECTIONS.

POSTPONEMENT QUESTION.

SETTLED POLICY FIRST.

CABINET "GETTING TO GRIPS."

PROMISE OF A STATEMENT. & [BY TELEGRAPH. SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The question which appears to be agitating the public mind even more than the economic policy of the new Government is whether the business of the Coalition will necessitate a postponement of the general election, and if it does, for how long will the electors be asked to wait for the privilege of exercising their franchise. This question, however, has net yet been dealt with by the Cabinet. It is understood that several Ministers are anxious to have it discussed immediately so that the country may be informed of the possible duration of the Coalition, but others at the Cabinet table have insisted that a policy must first be framed so that the Cabinet might have a reasonably accurate idea of how, long the services of the Coalition will be required to bring about the rehabilitation of. the public finances. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said to-day his statement to the House on October 6 would certainly indicate whether a postponement of the elections would be required. "The question is essentially bound up with the policy the Government has to frame," he said, "and by the time the supplementary Budget is presented,' we will knowwhether a postponement is necessary, and if it is, for how long." The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates also believes that the question of postponing the general election is subordinate to that of framing the financial policy. "Once we have this policy under way and can see where we are getting to,*' he said this evening, "we will then be able to form an idea whether a postponement will be required and for how long it should be. Just now we are busy getting to grips with the policy we have to put through the House."