CORRESPONDENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1931, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE

COUNTRY OR PARTY.

WHICH SHOULD COME FIRST?

(TO THE EDITOR) Sir, —When will the time Arrive when Mr Coates and the other members of the Reform Party will realise the grave injury they are causing to the prestige of their own party and to New Zealand by their pusillanimous attitude in connection with the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes’ splendid offer in the matter of the formation of a National Government? If the country’s distress will not make any appeal to them, surely the desire to re-habilitatc themselves in the estimation .of the thinking section of the community will induce them to change their extraordinary attitude. Can they not see and read the writing on the wall? Can they not realise that by their obstinacy and lack of appreciation of the serious

economic condition, that has New Zealand in its deadly grip, they are placing a barrier to our future progress and prosperity ? Can they not understand that in the opinion of the leading commercial and business men of the Dom-

inion party politics, and all that it stands for, must be obliterated so that true understanding of the country’s position may be arrived at, alid by an effective co-operation the difficulties, now standing in the way, will be gradually removed? Can they not also seo that they have alienated and are steadily alienating the sympathy (and support) of a very large number of their' own adherents?

That this contention is based on very solid ground is surely proved by the fact that Mr G. F. Roach, Mayor of Hastings, hitherto a supporter of the Reform Party (who will contest the Hawke’s Bay seat as a United candidate), to quote his own words, “has been steadily coming to the belief that Mr Coates and his party had shown that, when a period of national stress and general economic depression had, unfortunately, affected New Zealand, and all its inhabitants; when ,tho primary producers and all industries were suffering, and when the Prime Minister and his colleagues had made such a splendid offer to Mr Coates and party to co-operate and work unitedly for the salvation of New Zealand, they were not prepared to place the interests of the Dominion and its people before that of mere party.' So convinced am I, (continued Mr Roach) that the Prime Minister is pur. suing the only course that will put New Zeaalnd on its feet again, that 1 am prepared to stand whole-heartedly behind Mr Forbes to bring about this very desirable end.” Take the case of Mi* 11. R. McKetlzie, ex-clfairman of the Auckland hour Board, one Of that city’s leading men, who is consenting to contest the Auckland West seat as a United candidate (against the Labour member, Mr M. J, Savage) stated that “although he had been associated with the Re« form Party in the past, he entirely disagreed with Mr Coates’ attitude towards Mr Forbes’ splendid fusion offer/’ In Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, leading business men,, a large number ot whom have been identified with Reform for many years, have pressed—and have been most insistent in their pressure—upon Mr Coates the urgent necessity for him to ac?' in the manner suggested. Take the case again of the 120 bus- ‘ iness and professional men and others in the Palmerston North District, who have recorded their entii'e agreement with the proposals urging the formation of a National Government. They whole-heartedly support the resolutions reecntly submitted to the Prime Minister and to the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates by the business and professional men throughout New Zealand. Let me, in conclusion, quote a paragraph from their memorial forwarded to the Prime Minister. “We feel that during the currency of the present crisis no one party is strong enough to carry through the financial and other measures that are necessary; and that the formation of a strong National Government comprised o'f all political sections of Parliament that are prepared to place the national interests before those or party is essential.’’

Further comment on my part is surely unnecessary. New Zealand ill its distress to-day is calling to its representatives in Parliament, not to sacrifice disastrous efFect of f the world’s econtheir party,, but to forget it—even u. only temporarily—so that this fair land may emerge all the sooner from the omic crash. I am etc., COUNTRY FIRST.