FUSION QUESTION

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1931, Page 3

FUSION QUESTION

AIR COATES’S STATEMENT,

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association) I

CHRISTCHURCH, July 13. Air J. G. Coates and Airs Coates left to-night for Wellington alter a week-end visit to Christchurch. In reply to the question whether Reform and United would so co-oper-ate in the selection of candidates that three-Par.ty voting might be avoided in some electorates, Mr Coates said last night that according to the traditional method of his Party, the selection of candidates was left completely to the electorates, themselves. If an electorate desired to bring forward a candidate, it must do so; and it was not for him to interfere. “I should say that the Prime Minister is in a- far-better.-position'-to estimate the life of ..the present : Parliament than 1 am,” sand Air Coates to n further question. As far as lie was concerned, lie emphasised, the life of Parliament and the date of the next General Election depended entirely upon the nature of tlie legislation which the Government chose to bring forward during the remainder of tlie session. To sav 'more than that the legislation would be freely discussed would be merely guesswork on his part. Air Coates, during the next few days, will issue .a further statement of the Reform Party's attitude on the quesion of fusion with the Government, in reply to the manifestoes which wore lately presented both to the Prime Minister ’ (the Rt. Hon. G. W Forbes), and to himself. curing an address here on Saturdayevening, Afr Coates stated that the reply would represent not merely his. own opinion, and not merely that of the Parliamentary Reform Party, butthe opinion which lie had received from branches of the Party in all districts of New Zealand. The question of fusion, he added, had had the most thoughtful consideration of members of the Party and their supporters. He did not wish to discredit the sincerity of the Prime Minister’s offer; although his Party had decided against it. Although it, was claimed that two Parties would be better for the country, nctuallv the position would be more difficult than ever, for other candidates, Independents would spring up all over the country. The party which had a nlatform meeting the needs of the times would:, he was sure, have the fullest support of the electors. Further, he denied that the- three party system gave Labour any special advantage.