THE POLITICAL PARTIES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20106, 9 December 1930, Page 11

THE POLITICAL PARTIES.

COMBINATION SUGGESTED. SIR JAMES GUNSON'S VIEWS. [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, December 8. The suggestion that the three Parties in the New Zealand Parliament, United, Reform, and Labour, should join forces to meet the present adverse conditions, is made by Sir James Gunson in reviewing tho economic situation and forecasting tho prospects of the Dominion. During tho past fortnight Sir James has visited tho chief centres of the country. ''One cannot but be impressed with the economic difficulties that are quickly and adversely developing," ho said. "These developments arise from causes in part beyond local control, and are due to the greatly lessened income of the country, with a consequent diminishing spending power of a large section of the community. All classes of our national and domestic life are involvel or will shortly be unfavourably affected by the conditions which have already reached a point which should be regarded as a national emergency. There are three main factors in the situation, from all of which quarters prompt and effective organisation and sacrifices are essential in the hour of the country's need. All should share in the effort. All capital and labour and industry under co-ordinated and definite policy should offer their quota. They are: — (1) "Parliament, which is tho paramount authority, and from which the chief direction must emanate. (2) "The producers and the traders, those on the land and those in manufacturing and marketing. (3) "The employees; all workers in New Zealand. "Parliament must lead the country. It alone has authority, without which nothing sufficient can be accomplished. The life of the present Parliament should be extended for two years. The three Parties should join forces, with equal representation in the Cabinet. If the Labour Party refused to join then tho two remaining Parties should merge at once on equal terms. This does not mean political fusion as ordinarily discussed, but a merging of the Parliamentary forces of the country to meet the very serious situation which is de veloping. All questions of past admin istrations, of their failings, should be fcrgotfen, and the situation dealt with now in tlie interests of the country alone, as the Dominion will be in no mood next year to listen to political Party squabbles. There should be an immediate resumption of borrowing in London for approved productive works to be undertaken at once. Unless this were done unemployment and industrial difficulties would quickly further develop. National borrowing was essen tial in times of depression to tide the country over its difficulties." Sir James Gunson calls for an immediate balancing of the Budget as the revenue position is causing concern. The Arbitration Act should be suspended for two years, with a definite understanding that it be restored at tho end of that period on tho new economic basis.