TOWARDS FUSION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18414, 22 June 1925, Page 8

TOWARDS FUSION.

CONFERENCE CONCLUDES. PARTIES TO DECIDE. (FU99 ASSOCIATION TSLXOJU.*.) WELLI InGTON, June 20. The first stage in the amalgamation of the Reform and Liberal-Labour Parties—if there is to be amalgamation—has teen completed, for this morning the conference ■of delegates from each side concluded the business for which they were appointed, and on which they have been engaged since Thursday afternoon. Their joint report is now in the hands of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The delegatea sat until 9.15 o'clock last night, and it was agreed that Mill. A. Young, the leader on the Reform side, should draft the report. Mr Young did not cmnplete his labours until 2 o'clock this morning, so it may be presumed that the report is a lengthy one.

This morning the delegates met again to consider tho report as drafted, and finally it was approved, each party having a copy for presentation to its. respective leader. Mr Young subsequently informed a "Post" reporter that the conference hnd resolved that no details of what hnd taken place should be communicated to the Press, but he stated that tho delegates had conferred with tho greatest earnestness, and that the proceedings had been marked by the utmost goodwill and harmony throughout. It is believed that tile conference reached a, favourable point towards the object in view, but, of course, it will now be for the caucuses of both parties to decide what the nest step shall be. The Loader of the Liberal-Labour Party (Mr T. M. Wilford) declined to say anything this afternoon beyond that ho had received tho report, bub the Prime Minister (tho Hon. J. G. Coates) stated that tho Reform Party's caucus would not tako place until after the opening of Parliament next Thursday. Mr Coates said that it would be impossible to hold a caucus of the member;of tho Reform Party before Thursday, because some of them would not arrive in Wellington before that day. In reply to a. question, tho Prime Minister said that he would not submit tho report to tho caucus, as that would be the duty of delegates who had conferred with tho Liberal members.

Mr Young returned to Hamilton this afternoon, and Mr O. J. Hawkon left for Trranaki this morning. Mr T. D. Burnett, who was one of the Reform delegates, left for the south last night. Mr G. W. Forbes, who was the Leader for the Liberal-Labour Party at the conference, proceeds to Cnristchurch to-night.

AMICABLE DISCUSSIONS.

FUSION UNLIKELY UNTIL AFTER ELECTION.

(srscuL to "the rKßsa.")

WELLINGTON, June 21

The conference of the delegates froni the Liberal and Reform representatives in Parliament called to consider tho prospects of establishing a via media in their politics concluded its sittings yesterday morning, when a report (which is to bo regarded as confidential) drafted by Mr Young was submitted and approved. Members of the conference, while not disclosing any details ,ol : tfio discussions nor of tho decisions arrived at, make no secret of the fact that tho representatives of: the rival Parties mot ono another in a friendly spirit, and that their discussions wero amicable. Tho roport, as approved, will be submitted to caucus meetings of the two Parties soon after the commencement of the session of Parliament. What will happen then is in tho lap of the gods, but pven many Liberals are how beginning to see that there can bo no final steps towards fusion until after the General Election. It is quite a possibility that fusion will then come about automatically without any special bargaining- Indeed, it is no great secret that more than one Libera* would even now be glad to receive tho Reform nomination at .the coming election.

With tho advent of Mr Coates there has been a considerable waning of enthusiasm in the Liberal ranks, and it is generally anticipated that Mr Holland and his Party will occupy tho Opposition benches in the next Parliament.

On the occasion of his visit to Feilding last week, when Mr Gordon Elliott was chosen to be the Reform candidates for tho Oroua seat at the next General Election, the • Hon. A. D. McLeod touched on the fusion question. "I make no apology for visiting Feilding at this time," he said. "I had no desire to discuss fusion either in th& light of possibilities or probabilities, but I feel justified in stating With some emphasis that Reform will never retain office if the price of such reteaition involves the sacrificing of friends who have stuck to the Party through tho dark days of adversity. Wc welcome either Liberal or Labour support, but only provided that such does not demand tho casting aside of principles."