BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 762, 20 July 1916, Page 11

BRITISH ELECTIONS.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

MINISTER'S FRIVOLOUS REFERENCE. SIR E. CARSON ANNOYED. 7>'» Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ! (Received July 20, 1.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 19. In the Mouse of Commons, the Rt. Hon. H. L. Samuel moved that the Registration Committee report on the preparation of a new electoral register, including the troops. It will cost £300,000 and necessitate the employment of 20,000 canvassers. He deprecated a general election in war time, and remarked that it was unlikely that the Germans would grant an armistice to enable the British troops to vote. Sir E. Carson protested against the "opera boull'e" manner in which Mr Samuel treated the matter, and deprecated the belief that a general election was impossible in war-time. The question of giving soldiers the vote had been solved by Australia and Canada. The proposed Committee was a farce.

Colonel Winston Churchill described Sir E. Carson's speech as "one long sneer." Mr Asquith, in view of criticisms, withdrew the motion. He denied that the Government intended to delegate to the Committee the decision as to whether a general election was desirable in September, when the present Parliament ends. He promised that the Government would consider the matter, and, if possible, bring concrete proposals before the House.