EARLY ELECTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17607, 24 October 1931, Page 6

EARLY ELECTION

COULD NOT BE AVOIDED | CONSTITUTIONAL REASONS (Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, this, day. The public is well aware of tho rapid 1 changes in Parliamentary plans of recent weeks, but tlie most piquant story explaining tlie impulse behind one of the most important rightabouts has just leaked out. • It was at the time when the members of the United and Reform parties were ■settling down to a placid contemplation of 12 months’ respite from election turmoil. There was a general agreement about it. but there were some lurking doubts and. constant irritating questions from the Labor Opposition demanding an early general election. At this stage a Reform caucus was held- and consternation took the place of the placidity when tlie members of the party were given a straight lecture by an eminent constitutional authority, who maintained that the Government had no power to deprive the electors'of their rights under the New Zealand constitution, which provides for an elective . Parliament. When, on the other hand, it was pointed out that there was a. precedent for ox* ,tending'■ Ugrliumeat’s life the retort was that this happened during-wartime when .many precedents "'ere broken. Oil that occasion the Governor-General was never itsked by any section to exorcise his power of veto on this measure, but today a different situation prevailed and’it might, said this- authority, easily happen that tho GpvemouGonenil would have ho alternative but lo decline to sign tho Act for tlie ox'lension of Parliament on tho ground llmt such legislation was unconstitiitiqnul.

Thus the Reformers realised that air early election could not lie avoided, however good the mutual agreements; Then events moved rapidly to the climax of the leaders’ qmioueements of att election to be held'early in December. : LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME Tho House of Representatives has already passed 18 Gove min cut bills, including taxing bills, Unemployment .Amendment, Licensing Poll Amend.merit) Finance Bill No. 3,. Defence AiMiulmrint, -Companies ’ Empowering ■Amendment, Trading Coupons Bill, ’Rent Restriction Amendment, Local Authorities Loans (Rates of Interest.), pm! Rural Intermediate Credit Amend meat. In connection With the arrangements (o he made by the Coalition forces' to prevent vote splitting, it is stated that .overtures will be advanced immediately to secure straight-out contests in Mntaura and Invercargill. To leave the sitting! member for the former constituency, Mr. D. McDougall, clear, it is suggested that Col. J. Ilargcst, the Reform nominee, should bo transferred to the Invercargill seat as the Coalition candidate, since the sitting member for that electorate, Mr. Vincent' Ward, is not seeking re-election. If this arrangement, is carried out it •will involve the voluntary retirement from tho Invercargill contest of Mr. W. MeChesney, the United nominee, and Mr. G. Agric'w, Reformer. DUNEDIN APPROVES DECISION (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. Tlie decision to Hold the election meets with tho genoral approval. The Reform and United parties in Dunedin have already' agreed that Mr. James Taylor will bo unopposed in his candidature for tho Dunedin Nortli seat against Alt'. Mum-o. Similarly tho Hon. W. Downio Stewart and Sir Charles Statham have 'only Labor opponents for the West and Central feats. Tho position of Dunedin South is more, complicated. Mr. W. Jones is the Labor candidate, against Mr? W. B. Taverner, but Mr. D. C. Cameron has firmly expressed liis intention lately riot to retire as the Reform candidate.