THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18520, 18 March 1930, Page 10

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTION. By Telegraph—Press Association. WESTPORT, March 17. Mr H. E. Holland, leader of the Labour Party, briefly addressing a week-end meeting of the Westport branch, stressed the need for preparation for a possible general election either at the end of this year or early in 1931. It was true, he said, that the present Parliament might last out the full term, but it was equally true that no one could with any degree of certainty predict what would happen during the next session. In the ranks of the Labour Party, both in and out of Parliament there was gravest dissatisfaction with the Government, because of its failure to line up to pre-election promises. That dissatisfaction was also widely in evidence among the general public, including many supporters of the United Party in the electorates. What was very certain was that in the session the Labour Party would press every demand embodied in its pronouncement of last month, reflecting the party’s previous declarations. He urged in regard to the next general election that they should leave nothing whatever to chance.

Discussing possible developments during the session, Mr Holland said that in the event of the Government being; defeated on the Labour Party’s motion, it would follow as a matter uf compliance with constitutional procedure that Labour must be given an opportunity to form a Government. In that event the Labour Party would be entitled to expect the same consideration from the House as was extended to the United Party when it became the Government. He was confident that given an opportunity they would be able to present a programme of constructive legislation that would command public approval. Mr Holland announced that he would be visiting the main centres of his electorate before Easter, and as soon as possible after the Easter holidays he would undertake a Dominion tour in fulfilment of his promise given at thp beginning of the year.