WILL THERE BE AN ELECTION?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 168, 19 July 1941, Page 6

WILL THERE BE AN ELECTION?

NATIONAL PARTY PREPARES ■LOLL IN WAITEMATA TO-DAY “Will there be an election th.: year?’ is a question which is being asked in every electorate in the Dominion at present. The acting-Prime Minister, Hon. W. Nash, has told enquirers that the matter will not be decided until til? Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, returns from England. Wanganui Arrangements “Although there is a cloud of doubt over the whole issue as to whether or not there will be an election, the New Zealand National Party is definitely of opinion that there will be and, therefore, has advised all electorate committees to proceed with their preparations,” said the secretary of the Wanganui branch of the party, Mr. A. R. Donaldson, yesterday. “In consequence of these instructions, the executive committee of the National Party in Wanganui has decided to call for nominations of suitable persons of either sex to represent the party in the contest for the Wanganui seat, and the date for closing of nominations has been fixed for Saturday, August 2. In the event of more than one nomination being received, a selection ballot will be necessary and the preferential system of voting will be used at which only financial members of the party can exercise votes. Those members of the party who have not already paid their subscriptions should do so without delay as the roll closes on Saturday, August 2. Mr. Donaldson will be glad to furnish members with any further information they may desire regarding the ballot. Question in the House Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent, Egmont), in the course of an urgent question to Mr. Nash in the House of Representatives yesterday, asked if he had read a statement reported to have been made by the Minister ol Health, Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer. in which he indicated that there would not be a National Government an; that, there would be a general election. Mr. Nash, in reply, said his atten-' tion had been drawn to the report and Mr. Nordmeyer had not expressed those views as the decision of the Government,- but merely as his own personal opinion. Whether there was to be a National Government or whether an election would be held were matters for the Government itself and its decision would be announced from the floor of the House. Sir Alfred Ransom (Opp., Pahialua): Why dodge the point? To-day's By-election To-day there is to be a by-election for the Waitemata seat rendered vacant by the death on active service by Captain W. J. Lyon, who was killed in action. Five candidates have been nominated, including one woman. They are: Mrs. M. M. Dreaver (Labour), Mr. W. B. Darlow (Independent). Mr. N. V. Douglas (Democratic Labour), Mr. P. R. Garner (Independent, antiSocialist), and Mr. H. T. Head (PanNew Zealand Political Union). In the 1938 election there were only two candidates, Captain Lyon (Labour) defeating Mr. J. E. Close (National) by 7806 votes to 5545. The majority for Captain Lyon was 2261. The National Party, however, has not nominated a candidate for the by-election.