The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 9th, 1925. A FRANK EXPRESSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 9th, 1925. A FRANK EXPRESSION.

It is due to Mr T. M. AY il ford. Lesdor of tlio Liberal-I-altor Party, to say that he has been extremely frank in his statements on the subject of the possible fusion of Reform and Liberal. Air AA'ilford has discussed the subject quite outside of Party, and essentially from a National point of view. Jn writing his letter to the Prime Minister last week, he made this aspec t quite plain. He opened by saying: “First of all, let me make it dear that »e believe that party an party is dust when matters involving the maintenance of the Umpire arc contented, and we also believe the British F.mpire to-day is seriously in need of all the assistance possible, and I feel that with lessening production at Heme and competition

by co-operation on the Continent, we should try with all our might and main to make this little Dominion pull its full weight in the next few years. 1 need m.it stress the position of India, Canada. South Africa, and Australia to-day. Il i- i ell known to all of ii«.” Then be | roeeods to lake the wide view of llie political aspect and is quite frank in his expressions. He said : '"Let on* put on one side any vam quarrelling-i over petty things, lor I am firm I v of opinion that the pinch of compulsion will very shortly bring the m e.-siiy lor (-o-oprrnt ion home to every one of us. Nothing Init.a national effort with the assistance of the workers of the - oiniti v can create national strength, and all must agree that industrial war is u < i'sc than defeat for ei'eh belligerent. 1 lent that »r must all. as New Zealanders, quicken our < it leavinii's. reorganise many nf ■ cur methods, and make use of every latent resource we posse--. Is this possible? Fir.-t of all. Id me say that the . idea of getting together for the sole purpc.se of lighting labour is .singly suit ide for both parties, and I cannot believe that the same is your idea. It certainly is not mine. The party I I lead depends on corkers very largely, and they have never tailed us. ami any getting together, in my mind, must admit tin- ucecsoitv for killing class cun-M-ionsness and ] riuiiieing a pel icy fair to all, that is. a policy for the whole of the people, not, some of the people. Can we do this!' I- it a inli beyond ns? I think not. No party in these days can help New Zealand, in my opinion, which does not have an up-to-date and progressive policy.” Air AYilford lues not been equivocal in bis statements. lb- lias been frankness itselt. and his candour should ]iusli open wide the door which, in the earlier negotiations. Afr Coates was bolding ajar. It may lie assumed now that the joint Committee of the two parties will nit in conference. The matter of I'uHi n. it would a; pear, is not to In' a discussion on compacts, but a heart-searc-bing effort for a National policy. Air Wilford lias sleiwn plainly that Inis n,i L bargaining for office- as the price of bis support. But lie is anxious that the compact will provide for a policy he and tho liberal member-s (an support. He asks for a policy equal to the requirements and circumstances of the present day. And proceeds: “I have long opposed your party, and no man in Parliament- lias had longer continuous service than T have, so that perhaps my statement- may have- s-nic weight when 1 say tin-1 1 believe that under the present political nosition of parties in Parliament net cssary legislation often cannot find its way on to the Statute Book. This makes a football of the country; the game is often, played off-side, and the goal sometimes forgotten. I cannot. of course, set out in this letter concrete and fully definite proposals, for that means, amongst other things, drafting a national policy aceptable to both parties. Alv sole obicat- in -writing this letter is to ascertain whether there is any way of arriving at a method by which a combined effort may be made to meet the many serious problems, economic and jovial, which will surely arise, if T can read the signs (nrrectiy. in a very short time. 1 am satisfied that we must have reconstruct inn for recovery. In ((inclusion, let me say that if, after a conference, no policy can be agreed upon and ro amalgamation can take prince’, each Party will have the sntisfa'tion of knowing that in tho interest of the Dominion an effort has been made.” The extrir ts given from Air AYiil'nrd’s letter indicate the .situation very fairlv. The equality of partic-- does not allow fur an impartial review of political needs. That there are serious problems, both economic and social, ahead of the (oimtrv can lie realised, and it is of the most urgent importnine that they should bo dealt with- In the pa«t there lias Veen a degree of drift whi h lias not been for the public advantage. A check is necessary, and it is only from a strong government such a. course 'will ho possible. The real need for a fusion is to be found in that fact—to give Ne Zealand a strong and stable government led by non-ex-tremists able to give fair consideration to all classes, and with the avowed object of setting up the Dominion on a firm political rock which will withstand with safety the varying storms raised by those of extreme views so often bent on disruption and serious disorder.