WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1931, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS

NATIONAL PARTY.

AUCKLAND’S APPEAL.

(Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, June 22

The appeal of Auckland professional ami business men to the Prime Minister and tin Leader of the Opposition for the suspension of party strife and the formation of a National Government to deal with the grave economic and financial problems contenting the Dominion at the present time surely cannot he ignored by the politicians who are entrusted with the public affairs of the country. Nearly two month have elapsed now since the Prime Minister proposed that the United Party and the Deform Party—andi the Labour Party if it would—should disappear as separate political entities and cooperate as a National Party in a sustained effort to overcome the grave difficulties that were besetting the whole community. Mr Forbes stated definitely that he and his colleagues were prepared to lay down their portfolios forthwith and to leave the constitution of the National Government to the members of the House subscribing to the new regime.

PARTY BEFORE COUNTRY. Having made his own views of the situation plain to Parliament and to the electors at largo, Mr Forbes left the final decision in the hands of the Leader of the Opposition, and hie followers. MV Coates-, quite rightly took ample time in reviewing the position, holding two lengthy caucuses of his party in Wellington, consulting the party's chief advisers, ar.d feeding, as far as might he the pulse of the constituencies. The assurance of the leader of the Labour Party that, right or wrong, Reform would have the support of the third party in ousting the Government, finally turned the scale. Mr Coates, with Mr Holland at his hack, was ready enough to vote with the United Party so long as it was engaged in extricating the country from its immediate troubles: hut he reserved to himself the right to call Labour to his assistance—or to go to the assistance of Labour—when the nation al storm had somewhat abated.

A STOUT REFORMER. The Hon. A. I). McLeod, whom nine-tenth-s of his political opponents would like to see in Parliament again—say in one of the foremost seats in the Legislative Council —has set himself to persuade the electors that Mr Forbes is responsible for all the spacious financial proposals of Sir Joseph "Ward during those last days of his public career. This is scarcely “cricket.” The lot of Mr Forbes since his accession to the leadership of the United Party has not been to accentuate the borrowing of money, the construction of railways and the extension of such undertakings Ilis business- —and an extremely unpleasant business —has been to keep public expenditure at the lowest possible level ; to reduce the pay of many public, srvants; to dispense with the services of others, and to do his best to keep the finances of the country upon a sound level. Surely Mr McLeod docs not disapprove of these efforts.

“A POLITICAL STUNT.” Following Mr McLeod, a pushing young lawyer, donhtlees destined to a distinguished judicial career, mounted the platform and addressed tho members of the Wellington Reform Club with the easy assurance of a practical orator. Beginning by telling his audience that the Prime Minister’s proposal was nothing more than an astute political move, ho passed on to the substance of his address, “One of the most significant things to me about the fusion proposal,” he declared, as he approached his peroration, “is that it was not made when the House was sitting when everyone wa.s there and the pros and cons of it could have been discussed. It was not made until ti e Iloii!..' had risen and everyone had gone hack to the electorates. 'lha.t nine is enough to cause suspicion ns to the sincerity of the offer—whether it was not merely a p litical stunt.” Mr Forbes’s sincerity! Well, whatever his qualities in other respects the Prime Minister at least is honest.