THE FUSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 June 1925, Page 3

THE FUSION.

REFORM ATTITUDE, far tklkoitAi'ii —pup. pp.kss association AYELLIXOTOX, June 5. After a meeting of the Cabinet, the Prime .Minister, this afternoon issued a reply to the letter of the I Ahern! Party leader, suggesting that a t otnmittee should bo set up representative of the Reform and Liberal Parties, to discuss the question of amalgamation In his letter to Air Wilford, the Prime .Minister expresses the willingness of his party to proceed to a conference, hut suggests that there should he only three members on each side. The Prime M.ini.sler's letter is as follows:—“Dear -Sir: I have to

acknowledge receipt of your letter of Yesterday's flute, and to thank you foi the expression of views which it contains in regard to suggestions that have recently been made lor the amalgamation of the two main political parties. May I say, at the outset, that there never has been at any lime, a thought on the part (J those who support the Government that such an amalgamation should take place only for the puruoscs of fighting I.ahoui, i know that among the ranks of the workers are. many who support us, and the Government's concern in its administration ol its public allairs of the Dominion is to give equal opportunity to every section of the community. What I understand is rather to he aimed at is the joining up of our forces in order to present a mote united front against that section of Unpeople who actively espouse extreme Socialistic or Communistic ideals, the adoption of which. 1 am firmly convinced, would not ho in the be-l iutoic-ts of the Dominion. 1 have already said that the Government will give earnest consideration to any proposals that may he made with the object of finding a practical modus operandi between the two parties and perhaps I had better quote for your information the olfioial minute of the decision arrived fit when the question was discussed at the meeting of the Reform Party members of Parliament recently held in Wellington. It is as follows :—" Suggestions for a friendly conference which have been received by- the Government lrom n. representative of certain members of Parliament of the Liberal Party were considered by the ’"•'■'Ting, and it was resolved that the Reform Party is willing to enter upon such a conference as has been suggested. It was left to the new lender to make the necessary a mm go wonts.” “| niny say that, on tho 3rd insb., I took steps to co rum tin!cate this decision to the representative of Liberal members of Parliament through whom the suggestions had come, and f proposed that such a conference should consist of three members from either side, to meet, at Wellington at a date to tie subequentl.v arranged. It was I presumed that you wore cognisant of these steps, hut. if not, then I have pleasure in reiterating to you as Leader of that Party, of a willingness to proceed to such a. conference, and that ifc would probably facilitate necessary preliminary consideration if the conferences were limited to three members from either side. You will recollect that this was. in effect the proposal conveyed to you by the Prime Minister in lf)21, with an added suggestion that the Leader should he excluded from such conference.”

■' AIR AVILFORD’S RF.PI.Y. * AVELLIXGTOX, Juno 5. Mi- AVilford has replied to Mr t- Contes;—“l have to acknowledge reeeipt of yours of to-day. f have read ivhat you say about communicating iluresolution of your Caucus to a representative, hut, up Ui the present moment of writing, with the exception of Cue information contained in your letter, I have not received any information from anyone as to that resolution, and 1 feel sure that no member of my Party has done so. T now express my ■willingness to proceed to the conference suggested. I am, however, strongly of the "opinion that there should he at least five members from either side. There were special reasons tor the exclusion of the leaders in 192 a. 'Hiose reasons do not now exist and 1 tlunk that you and f should take part in the proceedings. Yours sincerely, Thomas M. Wilford.”