FUSION TALK.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20094, 25 November 1930, Page 10

FUSION TALK.

REFORM AND UNITED PARTIES. STATEMENT BY MR COATES. psrai itifcociATios ixixoaAa:.) AUCKLAND, November 24. Tho suggestion that thero should bo a fusion of the Reform and United Parties was the subject of a statement by the lit. Hon. ,T. G. Oontcs, Leader o? the Reform Party, to-day. "There is a good deal of talk in certain circles about the alleged desirability of effecting a fusion of the Reform and United Parties," said Mr Coates. "It is to be noted, however, that there has never been the slightest suggestion in this direction emanating from any member of tho present Government. or any prominent member of the United Party. "I would recall that when the United Party first tool: office I made a frank and public offer on behalf of tho Reform Party to give the new Government our support on every question on which it adopted a policy consistent with our principles. That offer was brushed aside, and the United Government turned to the Socialist-Labour Party for the support it needed in order to maintain itsell" in office. Since that timo the Government has consistently followed a course which has made it impossible for Reformers to support it, while, on the other hand, the Government's policy has evidently been framed to satisfy tlia Labour Party, on whoso votes it has relied. If there is, even now, as some people outside politics suggest, a desire on the part of the Government to free itself from dependence on Socialist-Labour, then surely it would be for the Government to indicate the fact. Nothing to Gain. "60 far as tho Reform Party is concerned, we have as a Party nothing to gain by fusion. Our own Party is absolutely solid. It has definite principles, and a clear-cut policy, and we face tho next General Election with confidence. But the Reform Party has never put Party interests first. We are not prepared to compromise with anybody on matters of principle, and there are certain important points of policy which we regard as absolutely essential in the national interest. If the United Party or any other Party chooses to change its policy and adopt measures which we of the Reform Party believe to be right, then those who "advocate fusion mnv be able to justify their position. But it is futile 'to suggest that we of the Reform Party should abandon our principles or cease to fig' l ' against a policy which we conaider thoroughly bad.

Seven Points of Policy. "There arc seven items of policy upon which we insist. They are:— "(1 That there must bo a return to the late Reform Government's policy of taporinK off public borrowing. "(2) That the costs of production must bo brought down to enable our producers to meet the new level of world prices. "(3) That a policy of derating must be adopted to ease the burden of roadijig costs on the farmer. <<(4) That the railways must be removed from political control. "(5) That the expenditure of borrowed money on railway construction must cease in all cases where it cannot be shown that the new line when completed will be economically sound. <«(6) That the rate of wages paid "or single men for purely relief work must be lower than the standard rate. «(7) That, although night parades lhonld bo eliminated, the system of national defonee must still be based upon the principle «<! national