POLITICAL PARTIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 173, 16 April 1919, Page 6

POLITICAL PARTIES

PERMANENT COALITION ADVOCATED. By Telegraph—P" n P< AeMciation. Auckland, April 15. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, speaking at Whangaroa, expressed the opinion that the best thing lor the irinntrj would be, that the two principal political parties should continue in coalition and seek the suffrages of the electors as a united body at the next general election.

Sir James Allen, questioned on tb,e 6ame subject, said: "I certainly think it is essential that there should be a strong Government for the next few years. This is an equally important ne'.d now as during the war neriod. for reconstruction is a very difficult task. The work ahead will require a strong Government and the best brains of the country to carry it out."

Asked whether he favoured a Coalition Government, Sir James Allen Said: "I don't care what it is, so long ns it is a strong Government. But the difference liplT-"nn tli« two political parties is so small that I cannot understand why thev should not become one. I think also if the two present parties went to the country as one, the bulk of the electors would support such a party, presuming that the leader, whoever he might be, framed a policy acceptable to the majority of the members and of the country. Despite minor difference. I do not think there would be any difficult}- in coming to an agreement about many important things that retniired to be done."