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REFORM AND FUSION.

TO TBB EDITOR OT TUB PBESH. —Thanks for space. "John Straight" says he has the kindliest feelings towards Mr Howard and all politicians. As "John (Straight" is obviously a name to hide the real name of the writer I am replying to, I do not know my own feelings towards him or her, as the case may be. But as 1 am actuated by goodwill to all men of goodwill, he is naturally included. To get back to the subject- —that Mr I Coates's seven points of fellowship as published in Tuesday's Press arc sheer humbug. Just as "The man who gets things done" was copied from & Kitchener "stunt" used during the war, so the seven points of fellowship are copied from Mr Wilson's famous Fourteen Points for ending the war. If Mr G'oates desires to join up with the Uniteds, he knows as well as 1 know that it can be done in seven minutes. He knows as well as I know that, with the number of members he would carry with him, any policy he desires can be put into effect. He also knows as well as I know that there isn't a point of difference in his seven points of fellowship between the two Parties. There may bo one or two radicals in the rank and file of the Uniteds who would not like tho idea of joining up, but I could not name them. "John Straight" and I can juggle with the Year Book, and still quote correctly and keep correcting • each other, with a suggestion here and there that we are not playing fair, until tho cows come home. We lose sight of the seven points of fellowship in a personal argument. I say that neither the Year Book nor the Budgets disclose any tapering off in public borrowing during Reform's term of ollice. I am not saying they borrowed too much. lam saying that with the completion of hj'dro-electric development, with tho completion of railways (and if the gaps are filled that will complete them) the only public borrowing that will bo needed will be for land settlement, which may include tamo further irrigation work. So that tapering off will come naturally. The seven points are merely words to create a psychological effect and to play to the gallery. Let Mr Coafces take each point and explain just what he means and each point will lose its value. Each point is cleverly laid out to meet some prejudice in the minds of some different group of people. Isolated apd explained, they mean not what these groups have in their minds, but simply "as you were." As someone said of Wilson's Fourteen Points, "they deal with the hary but happy future." Each point is a kind of balloon. Aa you go un you throw overboard all the concrete objects or ideas.

Now from Mr Downie Stewart we get a much cloarer statement. "I have advocated fusion ever since I entered Parliament," says that gentleman, as reported in The Press on Thursday. No seven points of fellowship there! Clear .and distinct: "I have advocated fusion ever since I entered Parliament." What I am complaining of is that the people are being confused into believing that there is some point of difference between these two Parties called United nnd Reform. After eleven years in " the House I cannot detect any fundamental difference. There are personal dislikes between them, but no difference of principle or policy. It others can point out any difference, then I should be glad to hear them. Naturally they do the same thing differently—just as two men doing a like job will tackle it differently. Reform started a railway into a wilderness from Rotorua out. Uniteds started to complete railways that have been advocated for years and stopped the wilderness railway ; Reform started a new railway station at Auckland and the Uniteds finished it, and it cost a million and a quarter pounds. It will not jjut one more ton of goods on the railways; it will not add ono additional passenger—while their competitors use the public streets and sidewalks as stations without adding a penny piece to their overhead costs. Finally, and again thanks to the Editor, if it is a good thing that these two Parties (United and Reform) should come together, then there isn't a point of differenece between -them, and the seven points disclosed are sheer humbug.—Yours, etc., E. J. HOWARD. November 29th, 1930.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19301201.2.137.1

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20099, 1 December 1930, Page 17

Word count
Tapeke kupu
747

REFORM AND FUSION. Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20099, 1 December 1930, Page 17

REFORM AND FUSION. Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20099, 1 December 1930, Page 17

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