THE PARTIES POLITICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1930, Page 2

THE PARTIES POLITICAL

COMBINATION SUGGESTED.

SIR JAMES GUNSON’S VIEWS.

AUCKLAND, : December 8

The suggestion thht the'three . Porties;. in the New Zealand Parliament United Reform, and Labour, should join forces to meet the present adverte’condit'ions is made b} T Sir James Gunsom in review ing the prospects of the Dominion. During the economic situation and. forecast ing the past fortnight Sir James- has visited the chief centres of the . country. “One cannot blit he impressed with the economic difficulties that are quickly and adversely developing,”' he said- “ These developments arise from causes ‘ in part beyond local control, and are due to the greatly lessened income'oi the country, with > ;consequefit dimijiishing spending power of a large section of the community. All closes of oiir national and domestic life are involved or will shortly be unfavourably affected by the conditions which have already reached a point which should be regarded ns a national emergency. There are three main factors in the situation, from all of which quarters prompt and effective organisation and sacrifices are essential in the hour of the country’s need. All should share in'the ; effort.. All capital and labour . and; /industry under co-ordinated and definite 'policy, should offer their quota, . Tjiey ate!— (1) “Parliament,which iaithe ;para-.: mount authority, and from .which the chief direction must emanate,, / : . (2) “The producers and the traders, those on the'land apd those in manufacturing and marketing. '■ • (3. “The employees; all workers in New. Zealand, y /'V•/ “Parliament must lead the country. It alone lias authority without which nothing sufficient can be accomplished. The life of the present , Parliament should be extended for two, years/. The three Parties, should join in, forces, with equal representation in the Cabinet. Ii the Labour Party refused to join then the two remaining Parties should merge at once on equal terms. This does not mean political fusion as ordinarily discussed, but a merg ; ng of the Parliamentary forces of the. country, to meet the very serious situation which .is/de-. veloping. All questions of past' admlristrations, of .their failings, should be forgotten, and the situa tion'dealt with now in the interests of the country alone, as the Dominion will be in no mood next year to listen to politica: Party squabbles. There should be an immediate resumption of borrowing in London for approved productive works Jo be undertaken at once. Unless this were done unemployment and industrial difficulties would quickly further de r velop. National borrowing was essential in times, of depression to : tide the country over its difficulties,” Sir James Gnnson calls for ,an Immediate balancing of the Budget ob . the revenue pquition w cauilqg opncern, The Arbitration. Act should ■bo suspended for two years, with a • definite understanding that it bo restored at the end of that period on the new economic basis,