WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

TOWARDS I'TSfOX. Ml! \VIU'’I)I! D SI'GGKSTS COXEKREXLE. (Special to “Guardian”.) AYEKI.I XGTOX, June d. .Mr T. M. Wiliord, l.osuk-r of the I.ilicral Oppnsition, has written to the lion. J. G. Coates, the new Prime Minister, suggesting that a comniittee consisting of six members o! the .Relorni I’artv and six memhers of tin. l Kibora! I’art.v should lie set lip to discuss the suggested fusion between the two parties. This is a sequel to t lie statement-. made liv these two gentlemen ii few days ago in which they each expressed readiness to consider seriously proposals made from the other side. Mr Wiliord has taken a step further towards a meeting hy suggesting a. ,(oid'erence and the next move rests with the Minister. Ahanwlble the

loader of the Opposition emphasises two points which are ot importamc. He makes it clear that lie will not accept o.Tue in anv "fusion'’ Ministry that mav he the outcome of the nego- : iations hetween the parties, am! thai> I-., j, not comg to he involved in any way in a pact to fight Labour simpl.v I.era use iL is Labour. r lin* setond an-

ur/uncemeiit seems to he necessary since some of the Reformers are lookin.it fav.mrahlv upon the fusion heetiuse they regard l.ahour and Socialism as synonymous terms both m interpretation and elfeil. This, however, is not the rock o i uhi.C the two parties are most likelv to be wrecked. XKWSPAPKR OI’IXIOX.

The " Dominion ” so lar lias mil, displayed any particular enthusiasm over the prospect c.f fusion ; lint it takes a judicial view of this lurther developiiient of the situation. " The lirst find most essential condition ot ;t stable amalgamation of the Relorm and lib o'al ]).'.rlies is,’’ it says, *’ thal it should tie based upon an agreement to pursue common aims, ami not upon interested hat-gnini ng. That is to say, j. Xatiomd Party worthy of the name must lie rnmnoxed of men who are in broad agreement,. <m all vital aspects r.l national and Imperial policy. It is essential also that the memhers oi the i arts' thus constituted should be able to agree, not only in selecting n leader, lint in giving :i free hand to choose ihe lie 4 men in the party ns his Ministerial colleagues.” With these stipulations the Reform paper approves of the parties getting together to determine what can he done. ’I he " Xev Zealand Times” which has warmly espoused the cause of fusion, is very critical of the manner in which Mr Willard's suggestion is presented. D regards a conference between the parties as assured, hut lets the Liberals know thal if iL fails it will lie mi account of their claims rind'thal it will he lor the electors to take a hand in lit' game. WAITIXG A REPLY. A Prime .Minister cannot move quite so expeditiously in a matter of this kind as can a loader of the Opposition, particularly when he is new to nllire and has his colleagues to consult. If is thought:, however, that Mr Coates will aecepl Mr Will’ord’s suggestion and that in due course a committee representative of both sides will he appointed. Whether or not it "ill bring about

any satisfactory arrangement between the parties, however, is another question and one on tvliit It local opinion is widely divided. It is safe io say that few of the members of the House are really enthusiastic about fusion. The "nis " are in and they realise that possessioa is nmn-,- points of the law at election time, while the "outs” are nut ami remember the experience of the War Cabinet without, much satisfaction. Afore than this the Liberals understand that, whatever protestations they might, make to the contrary, oiliria! alliance with the Relnrmrby ropiv.-dilation on thee Cabinet or in rw i-■/, would !■■■ taken ,i , a || "it -• Wi I l-dt aw a I o! I heir I r.nln toiia I sympathy with Labour. .Many people for'.* are ol opinion that any negotiations I.elw ion the tv. II parties would si . citify resolve themselves into a bid for position in view of the general election and that it would he the clever tactician rather than the reallv patriotic politician that- would score In the end. WIIAT Of TIIK Ml. ft •TulL's. Other irities of the liegot la. lions be- ■ vi an the party leaders are objecting inal a Parliament approaching its disj si-lnta,,n by the eliluxion ol time lots no right to rearrange its parties nilhoul •iilisulitiig iin.> constituencies. The reply in this L, of course, that tin- eon. st ititeiieies ill he eoip-idted on a score of other questions which all mu.',! be answered by one vole. fusion would "ot be a subject lor a. referendum, even if I lint "resort of cowards,” as -Mr Ahi-sey and other robust leaders have put it. were available. Members•if tin present, lint!-;" Rei.-rosen ta-tui-s who oiler 1 bemselves for re-elee-liou when the appointed time comes round, probably at the Loginning of December. wilt have to explain their af-t-dude towards fn.-imi. now and then, ami by their explanation iltev will lie I’-tdgt-d. At the moment no one seems to have any clear understanding as to 'vital fusion really would mean; hut it the local paiiers are correct m assuming thal its chic! use would he in protecting the Relorm from the assaults oi Labour, the movement cannot he e.x----p a l ed to make a .great deal of progress in the immediate future. The Liberals as well as the Reformers would he entitled to carry to their t-nnsliintents sen-" justification ol its consummation.