ELECTION CHALLENGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 243, 13 October 1937, Page 8

ELECTION CHALLENGE

MR. HAMILTON’S REPLY REASON FOR DECLINING [ Per Press Association. 1 WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. Commenting on the Prime Minister’s recent challenge to the Opposition to name a date for the next election, the Hon. A. Hamilton, Leader of the Opposition, gave reasons for his non-acceptance of the challenge. He stated that as the law stood at present the term of Parliament was four years, and it was difficult to see what the Prime Minister had in mind when making the challenge. The Government had been in office less than two years and the country had not yet had an opportunity of seeing the full effect of its legislation, nor had the Government a full opportunity of administering the laws it had made. “As far as I can see,” said Mr Hamilton,-“no change has occurred which would suggest an immediate election. The Government has a majority in both Houses and may pass any legislation it desires. If the Prime Minister wished to involve the country in the expense and confusion of an election, then that must be his concern and responsibility. General elections should be held at definite intervals determined by Act, and should be fought on real issues, not political challenges.

“I feel that this is not the time to raise side issues in the public mind,” he said, “but it is a time when the Government and Parliament should concentrate upon solving some of the serious problems which face thru country.” Mr Hamilton expressed the opinion that four years should be the normal life of Parliament. CHALLENGE STANDS MR SAVAGE IN REPLY [ Per Press Association. 1 WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. “The challenge still stands,” said Mr Savage, when the comments of Mr Hamilton were referred to him. “When there is anything which appears like an expression by the people of their desire for an election it will take place. The Opposition should be in a position to have some knowledge of what the country thinks. We are entitled to believe that Mr Hamilton is expressing the opinion of a large section of the community, and if a large section of the community want an election we will find a way to get it on.” He added that they had been told by the Opposition that money was leaving the country. If that was true, the sooner an election was held the better for everybody. “If we find that people feel that they are being let down or will be let down, we will find an opportunity for them to express their views at the ballot box, but I see no reason for that at the moment. I suppose the Opposition must talk.”