The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1931. NO FUSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1931. NO FUSION.

The straws blowing on the political wind since Air forties brought lorward proposals for a National Party, probaoiy prepared the public lor tne decision oi me .Reform Party that cnere would not be any fusion. Actually, lion ever, Air Forbes proposed something far more comprehensive than mere fusion, lie paved me way for a new party aiuigemer, and in the circumstances tout were tne nest course tor tine eouiury. He proposed to drop party and auopt country interests, i lie loaders or uelonn prefer to maintain party interests as being superior to country interests. ’i no (Jiago Times, «iie oi toe leading Reform journals, took Sir Janies Purr to task for ventilating in advance this attitude. The paper said rn a re.ent issue:—Sir names Pair, who is being, invited to contest an Auckland .seat at the general election in the interest of the Reform Party, took occasion in a speech on Saturday to express disapproval of a fusion of parties. The arguments which lie employed in opposition to the pioposal suggest, however, that he is more deeply exercised about the interests of his party than about those of the country. He is gravely concerned over the idea that the Reform Party would suffer the toss of its identity in the event of the formation of a National Party. If, however, a National Party would servo the purpose which the Reform Party has, to the advantage of ! the eomnninjty, served in the past—if it would com stitute the bulwark, which Sir James l’arr deems necessary, against the adoption of insidious doctrines that would undermine the foundations of organised society—and if, by reason of its greater strength, it could do these things more effectively than the ..elorni Party can, what valid objection is there to the formation of such a party? Sir James Parr says that coalition Governments are foreign to the British political instinct. Even if it he granted that they are, the point is not relevant to the proposal that has been put forward by the Prime Minister. It. is not a coalition in the sense to which Sir James Parr refers that is proposed. It i.s certainly contemplated that the Reform and United Parties shall be merged, but the merger ( if it is effected, 'as it should he will be into a new : party ; to which other parties will be welcomed that will subscribe to this party’s policy and hv which a leader will he selected. Iho policy of this new party, concerning which Sir James Parr says we know nothing, should cause him no misgiving. There has been a noticeable nar-rowing-down of late of tiffs small difference that have existed between the policies of the United and Reform Parties. If any difference still remains it i.s so minute as to be not worth consideration. In this fact consists any reassurance with Sir James Parr may desire respecting the policy that would be presented to tho country by a National Party. The suggestion that the parliamentary parties, as at present constituted, should face the constituencies at the general election and leave it to the electors to find their way out of the situation which has been created through the operation of the three-party system is hardly one that would have been made by Sir James Parr if, through his absence from New Zealand for more than five years, he had not in some degree lost his touch with public sentiment in the Dominion. It is impossible to suppose that in such circumstances the new Parliament would not be confronted with a position similar to that of which the public lias had experience since- the last general election, for no party would secure the return of sufficient of its members to form a majority of the House. Against such a calamity .the Prime Minister's proposals offers a safeguard. It is a safeguard, moreover, to which there are no perceptible objections save such as may be grounded in personal jealousies of a kind that excite only impatience and resentment in the mind of the ordinary citizen.