QUESTION OF GENERAL ELECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17113, 19 September 1917, Page 3

QUESTION OF GENERAL ELECTION.

DISCUSSION IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. PROPOSAL REJECTED. : (Fbom Oub Own Coekgsponhent.) WELLINGTON, September 18. During tho debate in the Legislative Council this afternoon on the Parliamentary Representation (Expeditionary Forces) Adjustment Bill, the lion. Mr Paul moved an amendment to clause 6 of tho Bill, with the object of causing a general election to bo held this year. He said he had never behoved that Parliament had a right to extend its own term of life. The election should bo held at the normal time this year. The argument that an election would hamper New Zealand in the prosecution of its share of tho war was not sound. Other and moro important countries had held an election in the war period. There wore questions which tho people should have an opportunity to settle if an election were held this year. The ordinary licensing poll could be held. The election had been postponed originally with the idea that the war would bo over beforo the end of 1918, and tho date of tho election had been set back, therefore, for a year, but nobody could say ' that tho war would end next year. Was the election to be postponed indefinitely? Sir Stands Bell said it was nonsense to suggest that a general election under existing conditions would give the people an opportunity to express their opinions. Ihe two important political parties wero combined in support of tho National Government, and had agreed not to oppose one another at tho polls while this Government -was in existence. A general election held under such conditions would mean merely that the temporarily combined Liberals and Reformers would oppose tho Labour Party. A contest of that kind would not provide any useful teat of public opinion. Ihe members of the National Government were not shirking a general election. Nothing would please them better than to have an election. Some of the Ministers would bo very pleased to be relieved of the heavy responsibility they carried, but thcro was no relief to be secured through a general election. Tho postponement of the licensing poll was a difficulty, but he felt that it would be a mistake to take, the poll apart from an election. Speaking for himself, he would eay that he knew where tie money power lay at the time of a licensing polL He did not behove that the Prohibition Party could bring its voters to the poll as freely as the brewers could bring their supporters. Sir William Hall-Jones said he considered that the demand for a general election was sound. The people had a right to review the work done by r Parliament and by tho National Government. There had been nothing paid at tho last election to lead ihe people to believe that consorjptkjn was going to be imposed upon tho dominion. War regulations of a very pevere type had been framed. There would be a general election in New Zealand before the war was over, because the people would indignantly demand it. The National Government did not represent the people. It had no right to appoint members to the Council or to send representatives to London. It should submit itself to tho judgment of the electors. . The Hon. Mr Eaxnshaw eaid he did not think it would- be wise to have a general election during the war. The people* had stood firmly in support of the Government right through the war. There was no alternative to the National Government. There could be no possible doubt about tho result of a general election. The peoplo would have no choice but to return the National Government, and then the Ministry would be able to claim a mandate, although as a matter of fact the people might not approve of some of the things the Government had done.

Sir William Hall-Jones said tho War Regulations provided that any person who incited disaffection against the Government was liable to 12 months' imprisonment.

The Hon. Mr Carson said it would be a -waste of time and money to have a, general election, since the two important parties could not oppose one another, but he would like the licensing poll to be held. The Hon. Mr Harris opposed the amendment.

Sir Walter Buchanan said there was no evidence of popular lack of confidence in the National Government. He was convinced that if an election should be held the Government would be returned stronger than ever.

Sir Francis Bell said there had been some domestio legislation during the war, but a Government constituted as the National Government"' was constituted could not undertake much domestic legislation, because its members vrere not in agreement He, for example, coula not agree with his successor at the head of the Department of Internal Affiairs with regard to matters of local government They had agreed as to th© control of rivers, and legislation on the point had been put through, but generally there had been a party trace as regarded local affairs. The Government had not been idle. Whenever real hitches in domestic matters had occurred it had attended earnestly to remove them, but questions of policy had to be postponed. The amendment was rejected on the voices, and the Bui was put through its final stages.