POSTPONING ELECTIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 5

POSTPONING ELECTIONS

GENERAL AND LOCAL BODY. CONSIDERATION OF MATTER. It is stated in circles usually wellinformed regarding political matters that in view of the present financial and economic conditions of the Dominion the Government is seriously considering deferring the elections of local bodies, such as borough and county councils and harbour boards.

The suggestion is that, just as the country has been saved the expense of the census, it would be equally justifiable, for the same reason, to extend the term of office of the present local authorities for, say, a year. Such an innovation would, of course, require legislation, and there would be the opportunity of putting it into effect in the special session next month. There is even the further suggestion that an attempt may be made to prolong the existence of the present Parliament on u similar ground. The Great War was made the excuse for extending the period of the Parliament that was elected in 1914 from three years to five, and the Parliament continued in existence unfil the ehd of 1919. It is contended that the present position is equally serious and that the same expedient might well be resorted to.