The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-02-23
Parliament Self Prolonqi,nq

FTsHE elasticity OF the British constitution is be-
y ing shown strikingly in the suggestion now
advanced in London that the parliament now in
session enact legislation prolonging its life until the
conclusion Of the war The only controversy like
~ to disturb the era Of good feeling existing
between the government and the opposition will
be the question Of holding general election,
which, under the Parliamentary Act Of 1911, is
due this Year, Under the former act a govern
ment which could hold, its majority was entitled
to retain Office for seven years, but few survived
that long and in lasting the FIVE years now permit
ted by the new act the present government has
come near establishing record ~ ~''"
Since the present government came into power
in 1910 it has lost seventeen seats, giving the Con-
seryatives an actual majority over the Liberals,
but the coalition of the latter with the Labor
Party enables them to keep the reins With the
beginning OF the war the two parties entered into
an agreement whereby any vacancy occurring in
the membership of the house Of commons should
be filed by member of the same party as the
retiring holder of the seat Such proceeding for
general election would make the proceeding
farcical and costly formality. ~
II is an open secret that the government does
not desire general election, not that any fear is
expressed Of defeat but because it does not be-
lieve that anything in the nature of domestic
troversy should be allowed to interfere with the
all absorbing task of defeating the Empires foes
Thus far the opposition has showed a patriotism
equal TO that of the governing party and it is not
believed that the responsible leaders of the party
win permit this reputation to be jeopardized by
the rasher members, who might put the possible
sweets of victory above everything else W
If formal general election is held with the pres
ent members men OF the same party returned
unopposed, it is likely that it will only be done
under agreement with the opposition that real
contested election shall be held immediately after
the war is over. But the most likely way out OF
the dilemma will be provided IN all probability by
short act OF parliament extending the life of the
existing body until the war is over. There is no
British constitution besides the acts of parliament
and the power which under the act of 1911 proyd
ed for an existence Of FIVE years clearly has the
right to extend this period. ~. ,
AS the law now stands, during the present year,
TO be more exact some time before next December,
the first quinqennal parliament will come to an
end unless it DEGREES its own further existence.
Under ordinary conditions this election would
probably be held early in the year the Liberal
party had practically finished it's original program
and would probably have been ready to go before
the country on some new issues. But the war has
changed everything and nothing more than parlia
ment and party politics Political strife is sted,
ancient battle cries silenced and party spirit Is
in entire subsection, In the long history of British
parlaments precedent for the proposed new lease
Of life will not be found lacking and in England
precedent coupled with need provides an irresiSti
bic lever. h#. ~ D "a. - '-.~.