CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11596, 14 January 1916, Page 1

CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

| QUESTION OF GENERAL ELECTION | . OTTAWA,'December -<•_ I Jt has been definitely decided ; not to summon the Canadian Pa/name nt until after tlie new year, and the next session wilt probably he eoitvoned ji^oxit .Tallinn-v 1-1 Whether if- will be noncontroversial or one of the most -partisan nature will defend cnLiiolj on the result of tho negotiations now in progress between Sir Kofcert Jio.-den and Sir .Wilfrid Lanrier. An agreement to extend the. parliamentary term until after tho war -\\.li• mean -«t d'w. void of partisan controversy; n to . arrive' at sucii an ;;g< f'enum result in a. short ol p-utisan oh'ameter, dissolution and a general election. A conference between the two Issuers has been fo.lowed by an interchange of noto.j on the 'subject. _ «:r Borden lia,s V. ill'rid , Laurier of-the prenedout l soon to be .estaolishod in Britain by legislation extending the term of the Imperial Parliament until -after the war. aiul has-pro-posed that Canada adopt sjaii.ar procedure. He has agreed _ that leg tiOn of a controversial character -shall be withheld. Sir Wilfrid has not given any definite 'answer, and if none is* received before the opening of Parliament, l-cg'.i-latioii extending the 'term of the Canadian Parliament until six months after the signing of peace terms will be submitted.*. If tho Liberal Party in either tile Commons or Senate manifests any pronounced opposition Par- , liament will be immediately dissolved. PREPARATIONS.

In the meantime both parties-, are making preparations, for au election. Til© Government would like to follow the precedent to be -cs'tablisiic-d in Britain, but on the oilier hand some ol its nienibe:s feel that a decision by the electors would bo favourable ~to thorn and that it would bo better to secure a renewal of office for 'five years throughan election than a shorter lease 'of power byj agreement.-. The. Opposition will abide by Sir. Wilfrid's decision. 'He has grown weary of politic?,- but is loval to paHy and friends and will retain the leadership and fight another battle if they ins'st. - ■ . There will bo no additional .taxation or' other war revenue• measures submitted. With the Canadian army increased to 250,000 men' and a jCoO-jOO!) war fuud required for 1916. no additional taxation will be imposed. Tt is understood the H<>u W. T. White proposes »to raise this -war - expenditure by domestic flotations, the -first- of £10,000,000 now-being, floated, -av.d loans in the United States-and Great Britain'. .The domestic loops are os? seeted to amount in. all tQ cC3O.OiX- ; It is d-oubtful if any railway aid legislation will bo brought before Frrlia'-" meat.. , . ' ......