AN EARLY ELECTION?

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 48

AN EARLY ELECTION?

ALLEGED TENSION IN REFORM RANKS. AFTERMATH OF LICENSING BILL. CHRISTCHURCH. March 11. A general election in August is predicted by a Wellington informant of the Christchurch Star who is in close touch with the affairs of the Reform Party. Strained relations between the members of the party on the licensing question are said to be behind the possibility of an August election. The article in last night’s Star appears under the following captions:—“August Election Possible ; “Mr Coates May go to Country to Avoid Licensing Bill.” One section of the party, says the informant. will demand that licensing legislation shall be dealt with, and if Mr Coates refuses to go on with it a serious split is assured. Mr Coates is quite prepared to resist pressure from the prohibition side, and may readily go to the country. The prohibition members of his party are prepared “to go the limit,” and will precipitate an election as an alternative to no licensing reform. The case will be one of open rebellion. The Star in the remainder of its article makes the statement that the Reforrq, Party has been warned to be in readiness for the eventuality of an early election. PRIME • MINISTER’S REPLY. MERELY A “POLITICAL KITE.” Asked last night by a Daily Times reporter if he wished to comment or make a statement in respect to the foregoing suggestion, the Prime Minister replied: “ Even ,the leader of a narty cannot be expected to know the individual opinions of every member on a non-party matter, but I have sufficient confidence in the loyalty and integrity of those whom I have the honour to lead to know that should there be the slightest foundation of fact in the political kite flown by the correspondent of the Christchurch Star I, as leader of my party, would have been the first to be informed.” Referring to the statement that the party had been instructed to be in readiness for an early election, Mr Coates said they 'could expect that on every occasion when they went to the noils. Still, ho was sure that no one would welcome an early election less heartily than his opponents.