HIS SUCCESSOR

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12076, 2 March 1925, Page 8

HIS SUCCESSOR

’ . EXTRAORDINARY POSITION. CONSTITUTION IN-DIS^Mpl.. - Beater’s Telegram / ’ '(Received March -2,. OfAS a.m.) ’ BEREESy.March 1. ’WTfJrtiro -is for the death of PreoideutejEbefi, the- • exSaddler dignity - and,.,tact during lue years of the Presidency enhanced his prestige, despite recent attacks on him by reactionaries. His death confronts the country with a difficult problem; The Presidential elections are due in April or May. The position is extraordinary, owing to the failure of the founders of the Constitution to provide the proper legal machinery for the election of a successor,, though they provided for Herr Ebert’s Presidency till the end of next June. An interregnum is necSsßary till the Reichstag passes a law providing for the, election of the President by plebiscite. Reuter’s correspondent adds that, contrary to the above interpretation of the German Constitution, it is stated thht probably the election of the President by plebiscite will be _ held within'six weeks,' under ar article of the Constitution which necessitates a candidate scouring more than half the votes polled before he is elected,. Thus a. further election will be necessary in the dvent of a candidate failing to get an absolute majority^overfall others.