N.Z. POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1931, Page 8

N.Z. POLITICS

COMMENT BY “THE TIMES.”

LONDON, July 2

New Zealand politics' is the subject of a leading article in ‘‘The Times” on June 29th, the inspiration coming from the cabled report of the speech from the Throne.

perial Conference,” says the writer of the /article, “the Prime Minister has been engaged i» an unremitting struggle to cut down every item of expenditure that could be cut without an ultimately wasteful reduction ol efficiency, and he has shown consideiable courage in the economies he has effected.”

The article deals with the financial situation, and goes on to describe the position of the Parties, referring especially to Mr Forbes’s invitation to Mr Coates to combine in setting up a National Government.

“Mr Coates,” says the writer, “was urged by a large section of the Press to accept the offer, which was certainly made in very generous terms, and which, if it had been accepted, might have led to the formation of a strong and stable Government, with an assured majority both in this Parliament and in the next. The leaders of the Reform Party were, however, reluctant to enter into an amalgamation with the United Party, espec-

v-lly towards the close ot a Parliament throughout which that Party has kept itself in office by Labour support. It is not the first time that the reunion has been suggested of the two factions into which the old National Party, which guided the Dominion through the war, was split by the establishment of the United ' Party under the late Sir Joseph Ward. The chief obstacle—for in most questions (~■ policy th i" lull lo divide the two Paries—was the personality of the late Prime Minister and the resentment felt by the Reformers at the extravagant promises by which the United Party gained its victory at the last General Election. On the retirement of Sir Joseph Ward, shortly be.ore his death -last July, ill was widely felt that a reunion was both desirable and inevitable. That feeling is now more widespread than ever, especially us the reduction of wages and the retrenchment policy of' the present Government have made co-operation impossible between Labour and the United. Party. But on present showing reunion does not seem likely to come before the General Election, at which the Two Parties in favour of meeting the present crisis by financial methods may thus have to compete against one nnothei for the anti-Labour vote.”