ELECTIONS IN WARTIME

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24141, 6 December 1941, Page 10

ELECTIONS IN WARTIME

The public political controversy started by the Prime Minister concerning the holding of by-elections is particularly and unedifying at the present time. Mr. Fraser, for reasons probably tracing to fears for the verdict of the Bay of Plenty electorate, has suddenly developed a strong desire to be quit of by-elections. He pleads the war m an excuse, but the plea is made belatedly, as the record shows. In May, 1940, there was a war on, raging in full fury in the West, but the by-election to fill Mr. Savage's seat was duly held. The National Party did, however, refrain from the contest. In November, 1940, there was still a war on, the British Empire was withstanding the Axis onslaught alone, London was suffering under the holocaust of bombing, but the by-election to fill Mr. A. E. Jull's seat was duly held. He had been a National member, but the Government did not refrain from entering the contest. In July, 1941, after New Zealand's own experience of war in Greece and Crete, a byelection was held in Waitemata and

the time spent by Ministers in electioneering remains fresh in memory. I On this occasion, the National Party once again refrained from presenting a candidate. Will Mr. Fraser state in 1 what respect circumstances have so changed that he and his party now : shrink back from holding by-elec-tions in wartime 1 If Labour really desires to be done with politics, if it i sincerely wants national unity, if it , truly wishes to put everything else ; aside in order to promote the war j effort, it can do so at once by accepting the Opposition's open , offer to join in an all-in Government. [ Such unity would end by-elections and party politics, as Mr. Fraser well knows, in spite of his empty protestations.