WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1931, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

GOVERNMENT AND FUSION. PRIME MINISTER CLEARS THE WAY. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, May 1. Wellington, generally, approves of the readiness of Mr Forbes in setting “party” aside and in making “country” the one purpose and object, of the House of Representatives for the time being. There are, o| course, a sprinkling of die-hards in nil the parties—United, Reform, Labour and Independent—who fain would retain their cherished traditions and objects though the heavens might fall: hut their numbers are insignificant compared with those who would have a sound country and a prosperous people maintained. Mr Contes, the leader of the Reform Opposition, very naturally wants to know exactly what Mr Forbes’s proposition means hef-e he commends it to the members of his party; but it will ho surprising if the two lenders do not reach an ngroo- ■ ment that will facilitate-'the passage of ’ the measures which seem stdl necessary towards the speedy restoration of the economic conditions of the Dominion.

LABOUR’S ATTITUDE. In first ..public.. nljusipii. .to this •"utter, and in his subsequent remarks, ]&• Forbes left plenty of room for the members of the Labour Party to realise that their assistance in extricatin': j the Dominion from its troubles would j bo welcomed. The Labour Pait\. however, lost no time in lotting him know that it had no sympathy wit’’ Lis measures of relief. ‘‘l think the situation calls for any comment from me,” said Mr H. E. Holland, with a fine air of indifference, when i’i«ked for an opinion of the Prime Minister’s proposal. “It renllv renrepents a despairing S.O.S. from -the captain of a .sinking ship to another skipper who. is' the owner olcargo on hoard the doomed vessel.” : .The simile would- havt; been smart enough had and applicable: to the 1 circumstances. Tb•factl"is. of course.'that the fusion of 'United ‘and, Reform .would for time being' extinguish Labour-;.,

LOCAL OPINION. irj Whatever may he the opinion of (Wellington electors to-morrow, or a me,utii hence, or on the dissolution ol the present Parliament, concerning the merits of the present patty leadersj/. jt. is certain .that - to-day Mr 'i-orhes i enjoys a preponderant share of ; popularity. The- evening paper requires two successive leading articles' in express its appreciation of Mr Forbes’s virtues. “Two months ago,” it -reminds' vis all,’.“when the Government and its programme were in jon-

partly/ Mr Forbes contented himself with the general invitation to - cooaerate, and repudiated, as some of us thought too peremptorily, the idea of fusion. But. with substantially tlfe whole of his programme on tile Stature Book he emerges from the session with such an addition to his strength and prestige that an offer which might previously have been taken as a sigh of weakness now presents the appearance of a generous and broad- • minded patriotism.” The morning paper is less ardent. It will wait and see. “ONLY ONE ANSWER,” .

Under this heading the “OLi'-’p Daily Times,” which is accepted throughout the Dominion as . the fiiW of political authorities, measures .Mr Enro ls offer from another angle.! “The way is fairly open,” it • s.ay “for the accomplishment of fusion that should prove in the highest Interest of the country, It is clean,v 1 impossible .that a, minority .Govern ment,. possessing no. real power, can deal effectively 7 with the problems ob fistnuling ■ tliemselvtts iat ores mi‘ . Thy responsibility is now cast on Reform of, accepting or rejetine tie* offer; There should he uo question about rh answer it should make. The time is not one at which there should be ary idea of bargainin'-- and baggl’w j ib-mt terms and conditions and nlmut comparatively small points of. policy; There will certainly be serious disr noointment among the supporters of Reform if there is not a'prompt a ! >d .unequivocal acceptance, of Mr Forbes’s offer.” The leader of the Reform 'Opposition can scarcely ignore Urn opinion of so high an authority of bis own colour.