EARLY ELECTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17607, 24 October 1931, Page 5

EARLY ELECTION

GOVERNMENT’S DECISION COALITION TO CONTINUE MANDATE FROM THE PEOPLE SOUND. POLICY ESSENTIAL (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Prime Minister*, the Rt. lion. G. W. Forbes, announced last evening that Cabinet had decided that the general election would take place at the earliest possible date after .the termination of the present session of Parliament, and that the Government would go to the country as a Coalition Government. in making this announcement, Mr. Forbes said that the Coalition Government had been fohned for a definite period and for a definite purpose, namely, to put measures into effect to enable the country to balance its national budget, and to put into operation a policy which would enable the Dominion to . surmount the economic difficulties With which it is at present confronted. That could obviously be achieved only ' by a Government with , a stable majority in . Parliament, reinforced by the solid backing of the electors of the Dominion and, therefore, the Government had decided to seek the approval of the j people in respect of what had been i done, and to give them the opportunity p, of'- extending to the Government the fullest measuro of confidence. “The Government feels,” said Mr. Forbes, “that it is imperative that its policy of sound finance should have the emphatic endorsement of the country; it.feels that the seriousness of the crisis through which the Dominion is passing calls for the utmost co-operation on the part of our citizens. I feel confident that in view of the abnormal situation, that political-differences will be put on one side by the parties to the Coalition. * •) NATIONAL EMERGENCY - “Speaking in the light of the experience of the past few weeks, I should like to pay a tribute to the manner in which the men belonging to the two main parties in politics have been able to combine and work together in a time of national emergency. I may mention that, 'at the recent Dominion conference of delegates of the United Party, it was unanimously decided that the political parties should come together with a view to securing the wholehearted cooperation oi every New Zealander during the present economic crisis for the maintenance of the Dominion’s good name. Personally, I concur most cordially with the views expressed at this Conference, and I appeal accordingly to all supporters of the United Party and other? not only to support loyally, but to' work for the return of all the official Coalition Government candidates at the poll. “I realise that, in making this request, considerable disappointment will be caused to many eligible candidates and friends of my own, but I do so in the earnest hope that the dangers arising from vote-splitting may be avoided. . “In following the course which has •been decided upon,” concluded. Mr. Forbes, “I have the utmost faith in the judgment of the people, knowing full well that, by returning the present Govj / ernment to office, they are ensuring that IT the finances of the Dominion will be 1 maintained on a sound and stable basis, and that the high reputation of New Zealand for honor and integrity will be fn safe hands.” STATEMENT BY MR. COATES The following statement was issued simultaneously by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, leader of the Reform Party: ‘.‘The circumstances in which the Coalition Government came into existence are well known. The grave financial stress and danger disclosed by the evidence submitted to the special economic committee could be met only by an agreement to form an alliance of parties to prepare and carry into effect a plan of legislation and administration essential to preserve the credit and solvency of the Dominion. _ “The reasons which* induced us to ally onrselve3 with the United Party are even more forcible to-day than they were when we came together a month ago. The work undertaken has been arduous, but there is still great need for continued effort. The position of the great primary industries by which this country exists is still causing serious anxiety, and we are only at the beginning of tackling efficiently our greatest prohlem of unemployment. Parliament is being asked to deal with certain urgent measures, but the Government has worked out also a compre-, hensive plan for the general rehabilitation of the economic life of the Dominion. “In other circumstances, a Coalition Ministry would have continued in office for a sufficient time to cany its policy into effect, but this Parliament will expire in a few weeks, and we have, therefore, had to face the difficult question of whether the life of the present Parliament should be extended to enable it to complete its task, and we feel that the constitutional riedits of the electors to declare their decision should not be limited nor postponed by reason Cof the emergency. COUNTRY COMES FIRST “At the same time, after careful consideration, we are forced to the conclusion that, in view of the gravo difficulties and dangers inherent in the existing situation, the parties now allied in tffe Government would not be justified in breaking apart for the purpose of an election campaign, tending to confuse the issue in the minds of the electors. “It has, therefore, been agreed that the Coalition Government and its supporters shall submit themselves to the electors in the form of a continued coalition or alliance, thus avoiding the division of the votes of those who desire to support the policy which has been prepared. “I appeal to all members, candidates and supporters of the Reform Party to endorse this decision and loyally and whole-heartedly to work for the return of the candidates chosen in each electorate to represent the Government now in office. “In the present national emergency, 1 am confident that Reformers can be relied upon to subordinate all personal and party sentiments to the paramount interests of the Dominion. Our party will not lose its separate identity. In this crisis, however, I call upon tffe whole Reform organisation and all supporters of the Reform Party to give full support to the Government candidate in each electorate, whether that candidate r be ! a member of our own or the United Party. In responding to this appeal the Reform Party will lie acting m accordI knee with its tradition of placing the welfare of the Dominion before all other considerations."