WELLINGTON CITIZENS REPLY TO MR. COATES.

Rotorua Morning Post, 31 August 1931, Page 5

WELLINGTON CITIZENS REPLY TO MR. COATES.

A rejoinder to Ihe , statements of th'e Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Goates, eoncerning fusion proposals, was forwarded to him. The ttxt is as follows: — "Dear Sir, — As a conimittee aeting on bohalf of Wellington signato.ries to the appeal that tl.ie Reform and^United. parties should get together, we write to aeknowledge your letter of the 15th iiistant addresscd to Mr Lionel Nelson, which letter was publlshed in the Press on Tuesday. "You are correet in your understanding that what we had in mind was an amalgamation of Reform and United — a real amalgamation', based on goodwill and an h'onest determination to guide the eountry aright in these trpjublous times. We are still oon^ vinced that the aims of.the two parties are so nearly identical as to present no insuperahle obstaclcs to their com-' piete reconciliation. ,\.n J'You say tliat Parliamentary history provides precedents of similar combinatlons that have failed in stabllity and permanence. We very much doubt whether any precedont does exlst that could he applied striotly to the econoinic conditions we are facing to-day, and the course of action that has heen sugge'sted. "You agree that every avenue should be explored. While appreciating the consideration that must hhve heen given to the matter by your party, we cannot think that exploration of the possibilities could he really effeetive if carried out by members of one party without discussion and close collaboration with members of the other party. . * "Presumably we must aecept your decision as flnal. If so, we ean only express our very deep regret' that your party cannot agree. that our aim is a Teasible one and flnds it necessary to reject our suggestious. On the other hand, if your decision should he reconsidered and anything can he done to hring ahout a political situation that will better serve the interests of the Dominion, wc are still more than willing to give any assistance we can to both parties in exploring the possib'litics oi" unity. — A'ours faithfully: "L. NELSON, "W. D. HUNT, "D. J. McGOWAN, "It. GAMPBELL BEGG, "JOIIN MYERS."