WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1931, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

•THE ECONOMIC CONFERENCE.

UNITED AND -REFORM CABINET.

(Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, September 21

. It was rumoured abroad as long ago as .Wednesday lost that the United and Reform representatives at the Inter-. Economic Conference'were discussing a proposal for the formation of a Coalition Cabinet in which the two parties would be equally represented. .It had been stated even earlier that the United and (Reform representatives had abandoned nil hope of reaching any reasonable aiv rangement with the Labour representatives, and that the breach between them would be only broadened, by further discussion. On Thursday the story was on all tongues, with assertions and suggestions, but to the credit of the local newspapers they observed the request of the Prime Minister that they would make no announcement concerning the developments in progress until he was able to place them before Parliament. His opportunity came on Friday afternoon when he was able .to announce to a full House and crowded galleries in very brief words that the Opposition and the Ministry had agreed to form a Coalition Government. The announcement was the world-round in the course of an hour or two and appears-to have met with general approval.

LABOUR PROTESTS, The Prime Minister had scarcely resumed his seat whan Mr H. E. Holland asked permission to move the adjournment of the House, in order, of course, that he might have an opportunity to express his indignation at the steps taken by the other two parties, as he would .have it, to overwhelm Labour. What had been done had been conveyed to the Leader of 'the Labour Party, by both Air Forbes and Mr Coates some time • previously, and he acknowledged th'eir courtesy. Having disposed of this formality, however, he let them know what he thought oT their politics and their adm/nistra'tion before passing glibly to a recital of his own proposals for the removal of the ills besetting the country. It was .'to 'understand; how both the other party leaders shrank from attempting to hariilbhize their, own political experience with the delusions of this tireless dreamer. Mr Savage, the Labour member for Auckland West, who followed his chief, had httle to add to the cause of his party Beyond passing flights of’humour.;A,it. , •

- • REFORM- PROPOSALS. • ■ J - Mr *J. AlcCoinbs, whom as a member of the •Economic'Commission might have shown his own party leader a better example, twitted the Leader of .the Opposition with having made overtures to the United Jparty to the disadvantage of Labour. A ready jretort from Mr Coates at once overwhelmed the innuendo of the member for Lyttelton. Referring to the allegation that the Reform members of the Committee had bsjen secretly meeting the. Prime Min ister, tho Leader of the Opposition said the Reform group had discussed for hours the question of how it was pos- , sible to design a' policy . likely to help A . the country, and its people, “We felt we were reaching a deadlock” he said. “The Prime Minister was rung up and we asked him whether it would be possible for us to see him in order ao discuss the position. . . My group desired that we should meet the Prime Minister and his group for the purpose of discussing nuesthns.” There, to the credit, of the Opposition leader, was what followed. THE NEW CABINET. Though no official statement yet has been made in regard to the constitution of the new Cabinet it is generally accepted that Air Forbes will have as his colleagues the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, the. ;Hon. Robert Masters, the Hon. Sir j 'Apirana Ngata and the Hon. E. A. I'ansom, while 'Mr Coates will bring across the floor of the House to the Ministerial benches the Hon. W. Down.e 'Stewart, Mr D. Jones and two other reformers whose names are not yet disclosed for publication. On paper, without any reflection upon the retiring ministers, the Cabinet may count as a strong one, likely to meet with general approval. Probably the distribution of 'portfolios will be announced to-morrow ar.d it will not be surprising, in view of the enormous burdens he is bearing. ■5 if Mr Forbes hands over Finance to Mr S'ewart - who boro the burdens of the Treasury during the later days of the [Reform administration