WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

-Et’SIDN FAILUKI-

WHO WAS TO BLAME

(Special to “Guardi".*!”.)

WELLINGTON. September 10.

Speaking at llaxx'ora, on Saturday o night, tli<' Him. A. H. McLeod, the n Minister in Charge <)1 the Reform t Party's Organisation—:m efficient tic- t parimcut. it may he well to state- p returned to the discussion ol the ‘lit- j sion failure " for the purpose, it would seem, of making it plain to his audience. that hut lor the cupidity of the t l.ibcrnL the two older parties ill the t House would now he emulating the ant- i ity displayed hy the sculptural lion and 1 lundi. The Liberals, he was grieved lo , -av, had entered upon the negotiations f \. 1 11 1 a voracious appetite lor portfolios | end iii'inuintv trom opiiosition at the ] pell-, making it plain from the first ;hev would accept nothing less than their own demands. Mr (>. Ax . horhes. V, ho was a Liberal delegate at the I'uHon conferenee. and now is jeader i ■if the Natioualists-Liheral Opposition. ~;ivi. a prompt denial in emphatic terms to Mr McLeod’s version ol the proceedings at the conference. lie lie,dared that the allotment of porilolios had obtained no prominenee during the negotiations and that a reasonable understanding between the Roiormers ami the l.iherals during the impending ideetion laid heen taken ior granted. What Mr Mel.end will have to say in reply to this challenge remains to lie heard, hut it is certain he will not l-e easily driven from his onus, A NEWSPAPER VIEW. Meanwhile the " Evening Po-t ” in its best judicial style makes a brave attempt lo hold the scales lairly between i lie disputants. " Having set out to show the electors ol Pulea that some of the Liberals de-ired Insion for what they < nt:ld get out ol it.” tie evening: journal say-. "the ||on. A. I). .McLeod lias given mneh more convincing proot oi the eh-lrm-t ivi* spirit in which the issue ".a- approached by at least some of the Relormers. \\ e gix'e .Mr McLeod Itimseli i rodit for ;t eonsiderahle utetisttiv oi candour. lie. at least, did not attempt to disguise his own opinion of fusion. and even while the negotiations were in progress made a stalenielit which could I ear no other internreiation than that fusion was possible only hy the tint nndil ional surrender of Hie Liberals.” The statement to which the " Post ” refers was to the elleet that the Govei'linielit would welcome reeniits from either the Liberal or the Labour ranks, hut only on condition that they accepted Reform principles ami refrained from attackin'' Reform candidates already in the Held. Ihe imposition ol conditions ol this kind, which appear lo have bean endorsed Lx .Mr McLeod’s colleagues, suggests, ns the ” Post ” says. " that there was much more HI it II than plain talking about the whole lnisiness." THE BIRTH OE THE IDEA. The truth of the manor is that the idea of fusion between the tv.n ohler parties was an iidteritanee trom Air Massey. Had the groat Reform leader lived and enjoyed pood health lor another year or two. in all probability ho would have brought the idea to fruition, lie realised alter the election of 1922, that in spite ol his {'onerous concessions to Liberalism and in spite of his continued personal authority. his own political manii was v.aitinp. to some ol his closest t fiends ue admitted as much. He was not content to hold ollicc l.y the prace id the two members who haul come to hint from tiie other side of the House and

Itv the accident ol the Maori vole. Hi

reiterated invitation to other members to follow the example of Mr !siu ami Mr Witty had met with no response and the on I look in the constituencies at that lime was not encouraging. The pains of the Labour Opposition at lie noils had far outnumbered the losses of the Liberal Opposition, anti then' was no sion oi a Relonn revival on the horizon. Naturally Mr Miusev's collenpucs viewed fusion in those days willi .-ome personal misgivings. The death of their leader, ncirvellnus as it may seem, has brought them their op poll unity ami they are toil ei)itip 10 liphtir set it aside. AT THE POLLS. What «ill he tin* ultimate outcome of the present political eonltision is a. question which no one. save perhaps Air McLeod, appears able to answer with any (ouliilenee. The Minister of Lands, lo hi - eredil. i always a < beery optimist and he sees the Reloriuers eomilip lank altit tin' genera! eleetion reinfureetl hy hull a dozen seals;, whit'll v\ mi Li pive them a clear majority ol ten independent of any unattached fusinnists who mipht drift towards (heir side ol the House. Then 1 is a leelinp here, ul :m\ - rate, that the improved Itv the apuoiutmeut ol Mr Forbes to their leader-hip. Mr Forbes i- an old representative font halier and he plats polities much as he plated Rugby, as hard as |,e Knows how, lull ahttit'. nil It a smile mi his lips and a

glow nf comprehensive friendship in his heart. The Labour Party is thought Lo have lost ground during the lasi month or two. through no fault, ol their own. Iml ouing to industrial strife broad. Its members, however, are conlideat of maintaining tlmir present represen! al inn in the llnuse and hopeful of increasing it. If they do tint Mr Mel..-od's prediction will lie tin I itllil led. There are not six seats to be won Irani the Liberals.