REFORM'S ATTITUDE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 23, 19 September 1931, Page 5

REFORM'S ATTITUDE

("Post" Special Commissioner.) |

MR. COATES EXPLAINS COALITION NECESSARY TO ENSURE PROMPT AND EFFECTIVE ACTION COUNTRY' S NEEDS URGENT

WELLINGTON, Friday. The Rt. Hon. J. G.. Coates, Leader of the Reform Party, speaking in the House of Representatives this afternoon said he would not discuss the inter-party economy committee's deliberations as much of the evidence placed before it was of a confidential nature. Mr. J. McCombs (Labour, Lyttelton) : They told us nothing new. Continuing, Mr Coates said the Reform group had not been able to frame a definite policy because of laek of certain information, which was not made available to the committee. He wished to clear up the suggested seeret meeting. When the Reform representatives felt that a deadlock had been reached, they asked the Prime Minister to meet them and discuss the situation. Mr W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) : Why was Labour left out? Mr. Coates: I don't think it was necessary to include them. The object of the meeting was to endeavour to make some arrangement for the ma--jority of the committee to" come to a decision. No matter was discussed at the meeting which was not discussed next day befpre the committee. The question of the formation of a national Government was not discussed at the meeting in the Prime Minister's room, though it did crop up before the committee. "As leader of the Reform Party," said Mr. Coates, "I am and have been, opposed to anything in the form of a fusion and coalition. My statements to the country have been clear and I was sincere in those statements, but the evidence placed before the committee was enough, I think, to cause any man to be concerned as to the immediate welfare of the country if the problems were not tackled at once." Mr Coates said the problems must be tackled with determination and in absolute fairness to every citizen, it was only out of a very strong sense of public duty that he had asked the members of 'his Party to stand in and carry through a programme of legislation, the nature of which had been discussed with them, as well as with the Prime Minister and his group. There was a general agreement between the two Parties as to the neccesity for action being taken without further delay, and the Reform Party's view was that if they failed to take action they would be failing in their duty to the country. It had to be remembered that the arrangement which had been made was a combination of the two Parties, which did not destroy * either Party. He said a statement would be issued shortly showing the position of all sections of the community and the fullest reasons would be given why it had been found necessary to form the coalition. Mr Coates said the Labour Party seemed to be out to protect a few men who were on high rates of pay and they forgot that there were many citizens who were only too anxious to get to work as soon as possible.