POLICY AND PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 126, 25 November 1930, Page 8

POLICY AND PARTY

After some delay the Reform Party, through its leader, has stated the fundamental points, of its policy, which points are presumably those separating it from United. Now that these points have been set out we can excuse the delay in defining the "fundamental differences" previously referred to by the leader. It can be understood that it took time to find just what these differences were, and it is only to be regretted that more time still was not taken in examining them. Then it jrauld have been seen that they do ht# constitute that "fundamental" gap that is suggested, yesterday we commented upon Mr. M'Leod's argument against fusion — that it would strengthen the Country Party. That argument, we showed, was not sufficiently substantial to deter the parties from facing the real present peril of party division. The policy points enumerated by the Reform leader in the statement published to-day are a grealer obstacle, but not an insurmountable one. On two of the seven points there is substantial agreement in principle between Reform and United; three others have been embodied M Reform policy since the election (two within recent months)'; on one there is admittedly a difference, and on one there may be a difference when the United policy is clearly stated. - • The seven items of policy are in detail:— (1) That there must be a returnto the late Reform Government's policy of tapering off public borrowing. (2) That costs of production must be 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 roading costs on the farmer. (4) That the railways must be removed from political control. (5) That expenditure of borrowed money on railway construction must cease in all cases where it cannot be shown that a new line when completed will be economically sound. (6) That the rate of wages paid for single men for purely relief work must be lower than the standard rate. (7) That although night parades should be eliminated, the system of national defence must still be _based upon the principle of national service. On the first point (loan tapering) [there was a marked difference when United attained office; but it is not so marked now. Mr. Forbes's Budget references to borrowing might have been written by Mr.. Downie Stewart, and Mr. Stewart wrote last month: "This year it is satisfactory to notice that it (borrowing in London) has dropped again to five and

a half millions—either from choice or necessity." We think there would be little difficulty in bringing about a measure of agreement on the need for reducing costs of production, though United, owing to its dependence on the Labour vote, has shirked this issue hitherto. The Government has, however, fully admitted the producers' need for relief. The third item—rural derating—was apparently adopted by Reform at its last conference under pressure from farmers who have seized on the British policy without stopping to reason it out. There is room for "derating," but it must not be rural .alone. It must come as part of a considered transport policy, placing a fair share of road-cost on road-users and affording relief to town and country alike. As United is committed to a transport- policy, for which the way was prepared by Reform, there should be little difficulty on this point unless Reform insists on an inequitable relief measure. Removal of railways from political control, We may point out, was not part of Reform policy when Reform had power. It appeared in that policy; only a little ahead of its recommendation by the United Party's Railway Commission. , If the Government agrees with'its own Commission on that point it can agree also with Reform. On railway construction Reform has again discovered a policy which it could not find when in office. We are hopeful that United will come jound to the same viewpoint. The rate of wages on relief works is, perhaps, the greatest stumbling-block in the way of agreement; but if this issue is fairly faced in the light of facts which may be revealed by the Unemployment Board, it should not be impossible for reasonable men to agree. Defence policy presents a problem, after the Government has gone back on its own election policy. How great is the problem we -cannot say until we know what is the Government policy at present. By some spokesmen it has been slated as temporary suspension of [compulsion, by others as a trial of the voluntary system —but without funds or assistance. In view, however, of the fact that the Government's backsliding is but recent, and that it has not yet slid down the steep place into the sea, it may, when the Labour spirit is exorcised, again find a footing on firm ground. In summing up, we may safely say that while some of the items call for careful consideration, and present differences which cannot be overcome without thought, there is nothing in the list which should close the door to fusion if reasonable men are anxious to keep it open. We see greater difficulties in the attitude of the'parties to each other. The Government, partly through bad management on both sides, and partly through the accidents of politics, has drifted further- away from Reform. That drift will not be stopped if both parties now fix their gaze on election chances. "We have as a party nothing to gain by fusion," says Mr. Coates. "We face the next General Election with confidence, but the Reform Party has never put party interests first." Everything now depends upon the sincerity with which the parties place the country first. .If 'they will understand how the country could be helped by a strong Government with a firm policy they will not allow party to stand, in the way. But if they approach the problem with the intention, not of solving it, but of putting the blame for failure on each other, there will certainly be failure. With the exception of party diehards, the people, we believe, desire union, and they will not be easily misled by insincere attempts to grapple with the difficulties.