WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1930, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

REFORM SUGGESTS FUSION. ITS TERMS.

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, November 25. The suggestion made by the Right Hon. J. G. Coates in Auckland yesterday for the fusion of ihe Reform Tarty and the United Party “or any other party,” was not particularly conciliatory. “If the United Party or any other chooses to change its, policy and adopt measures which we of the Reform Party believe to be right,” he declared hero.cally .“those who advocate fusion may be able to justify their position; but, it is futile to suggest that we of the Reform Party should abandon our. principles or cease to fight against a policy which we consider wrong.” All this of course, is right and proper from the Reform point of view, but as a preliminary to “fusion” it seems somewhat , out of tune and place. It appears, indeed, as if the leader of the Opposition wished to. put the question of fusion aside altogether, and to go to the constituencies next year with the credit of having denounced both United and Labour. THE REFORM POLICY. Mr Oo:ytei( - having denounced -the' policies and the practices of .the Unit- • ed Party and the Labour Party, ; proceeds to set out the seven conditions on which his own party might consider ;• fusion with one or the other or both of its opponents. "There must ... says, "a return to the Reform Party’# 1 policy of tapering off the costs of production must- be brought down; a policy of derating must he adopted; the railways must be removed from politial controlthe expenditure of borrowed money on railway construction must cease ; the rate of wages paid to single; ’men; for pui ely relief work must .be lower s than the standard rate, and -the national defence must be based. upon the principle of national service.” All these, demands, of course, rest upon the recognised poliy of the party,, and obviousy are intended to convey to the electors the idea that neither United nor Labour has given any serious thought to these very important’ problehis • !.: THIRD IN DEMAND. ' The Hon. A'. E. Raiisbni, who has begn filling the. shoes, of, the Prime Minister during, that gentleman’ absence in London, has been laid aside by illness during the .test fortnight or; so and yesterday, with some slight improvement in; his condition, was ..taken to his home in Dannevirke, to recuperate. The Acting-Prime Minister, who has discharged; the duties ; of fos ppef with singular tact and ability, has been taxing a constitution that is none too robust, and his colleagues are hoping he will‘take more than a mere yyeek’s rest. During his absence the Prime Minister’s duties at this end of the Empire Will be discharged by. Sir Apiraua Ngata, Minuter of Native Affairs and Acting Attorney-General ,and, an well, . t4m scholar and orator of.-the Cabinet. Sir Apiraua has filled a- place in the- , House of - Representatives continuously since 1905 as representative of the .. Eastern Maori Constituency, and his tenure seems likely to be further prolonged during, his own pleasure. RELIEF WORKS. ■, ,; • ; i The “Dominion” this morning, referring to a deputation that waited upon the Hon. W. A. Taverner.the other day makes some alarming statements con- ... eerning the cost of relief works. “The Minister,” it says, "failed to distinguish between public works and relief—indeed it is plain that for some tune very little distinction has been made —but he did say that the Public Works Department is at present employing 17,U00 men at a total cost to the State of * £17;000 a day.. That means, spending at the rate of £5,100,000 a year. No doubt a portion of that sum is loan money, and yet registrations of unem-. ployed continue to increase although the busy season is well advanced. What does that mean? It means that the price of labour is too high by comparison with what labour will produce.” These figures have not yet been challenged, and the public well may wait with some anxiety the retort of the Minister. Five millions is a large * sum. -