POSTPONING ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20989, 28 September 1931, Page 11

POSTPONING ELECTIONS.

Sir, —The proposal to postpono the elections has caused serious misgivings to many of all political parties who believe in democracy. If Parliament has the light thus to prolong its own existence it reveals an amazing flaw in our constitution. What is to prevent any Government with the necessary majority from keeping itself in offico for an indefinite term ? Whafc would be said if a Labour Government, at tho end of a three-year torm, voted itself a further three years in office? The position is intolerable—it is difficult to believe that there is any legal right to flout the rights of tho electors in this way. There certainly is need for a National Government ; there never was such need before —but who but the people have the right to elect a National Government? lo suggest that that power can be taken by any Government in office, however reckless or incompetent, is to make a farco of representative government. In tho present national emergency wo need the co-operation of the whole people—that co-operation will not, be obtained by flouting our constitutional rights. Last century, when the people were agitating for representation, their slogan was: "No taxation without representation." It may seem convenient to disfranchise the people before imposing irksome taxation, but taxation imposed under such conditions may easily be grossly unjust, and no free people will tolerate it. J. S. Montgomerik.