FUSION QUESTION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18413, 20 June 1925, Page 14

FUSION QUESTION.

WELLINGTON COMMENT.

(srEciAi, to ""iuk rr.Ess.")

WELLINGTON, June IP.

The fusion delegates sat to-day, morning and afternoon, and arc again sitting this evening. They have agreed that even after the deliberations have boen concluded, no statement shall be given to tho Press. The report of tho conference will bo submitted to caucus meetings of each party. As each and ail of tho delegates arc under the seal of secrecy, there can bo nothing but mere speculation as to what they have boen doing, und at tho present stage, it would Ik> inadvisable to speculate, as speculation might make one side or tho other appear in tho wrong, and so form an obstacle to fusion.

Indeed, already harm has been done by tho publication in the "Post"' tonight of tho views of "a supporter of tho Liberal Party.'' who, to say the least of it, has been most indiscreetTho statement is printed as follows: — "Tf all the Ministerialists aro not whole-heartedly enthusiastic about fusionr-and some there are who are believed to bo lukewarm—there is good ground for saying that tho Liberals aro sineero in their desire to try to bring union about in tho interests of tho country. This view was put. forward to a 'Post' reporter by a prominent) supporter of tho Liberal Party, who said there coidd be no doubt that whichever side was guilty ot throwing difficulties in tho way beforo the General Election, would pay heavily for it when the electors were being consulted. The further opinion was ventured that in tho event of amalgamation, tho Primo Minister need not be iinduly troubled about tho question of Cabinet appointments, because if in his fresh selection of Ministers his inclusion of Liberals caused heartburning in tho Reform ranks, it could not cause a crisis, as thc-s's who were not considered eligible for elevation, would not bo likely to ally themselves with tho Labour Party." There is in this statement from a prominent Liberal an early attempt to make the Reform Party appear in the wrong. And more than that, there is a threat ns to what will happen at the General Election.