COALITION PACT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 65, 7 November 1931, Page 3

COALITION PACT

.("Post" Special Commissioner)

ARE PARTIES LOYAL? SUSPICIONS RAISED BY LARGE NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT SUPPORTERS ENCOURAGEMENT SUGGESTED

WELLINGTON, Friday. A1 though the selection of Coalition candidates appears to be working smoothly, signs are not wanting that behind the scenes emharrassing problems are# confronting both the United Party and the Reform Party, and in spite of the fact that 64 seats have now been decided upom, there may be one or two intriguing situations before the numbers go up. In fact, there are some who are lualified to speak who assert that in several constituencies the relations >etween the committees of the Coali;ion parties are anything but amieible and that the respective Party leadquarters are making little »or 10 effort to pour oil on the troubled vaters. An abnormal number of Independ;nt Reform and Independent United sandidates, who had previously had she endorsement of their parties, is m ominous sign that many of them ire in open revolt. More significant still is the fact that these Coalition :ebels are being assisted by the party jommittees in their campaign. Naturally the situation gives rise ;o the question as to how far both larties are being ostensibly loyal to the pact and how far the leaders shenlselves are conniving in the ireakaways. After all, if the agreement "To put ihe country first" is recognised in spirit as well as in form, there should be no difficulty in making arrangements for Coalitionists to be unchallenged by other representatives of the twin party. The explanation seems to lie in the fact that some discontented IReform Party1. candidates who have had to give way to sitting United members under the Coalition pact are being encouraged to go to the polls as Independent Reformers by their party headquarters. At least one of these independent Reformers who is in the field against a sitting United member has received the personal blessing, if not the secret endorsement, of Mr. Coates. Naturally the exact extent of this practice cannot be gauged, but the appearance of loyal stalwarts of both parties in the guise of independents gives rise to suspicions and it will be interesting to learn the personnel of the committees supporting these men. Summed up, it would appear that party ambitions have not been smothered by the pact and that unlessi the position is alleviated, the lofty prineipled Coalition -may be swallowed up in a welter of recrimifnations.