PROSPECTS OF FUSION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10415, 5 June 1925, Page 6

PROSPECTS OF FUSION

DEFINSTE STEP MADE. ME WILFORD'S LETTER. WELLINGTON, June 4. A further definite advance toward fusion of the two old parties is indicated in Mr Wilford's letter to the Prime Minister, and will mean prompt action by the latter. Mr Goates is naturally not prepared to discuss the question in print immediately. He is of the opinion that Mr Wilford's letter should he answered, which will be done on Friday or Saturday. Meanwhile the Prime Minister has nothing further to add to his plea that the political hatchet should be buried. The most significant point in Mr Wilford's letter, which will appeal to Parliamentarians who have discussed fusion for many months, seeing no way of bringing it about, is the definite declaration of the liberal leader that he will not take office if it is available to him. It removes what last session was said to be the most formidable obstacle to amalgamation. Well-meant efforts to discover a method of fusion were made during the late Prime Minister's lifetime, but on every occasion it was suggested that the two leaders of that time could never work together, nor could many of the Reform Party co-operate harmoniously with the member for Hutt. Mr Wilford, as Opposition leader, had perforce to make himself decidedly unpopular with Government supporters, and it seemed difficult to get over this inevitable handicap associated with his Parliamentary duty. The Liberal leader has, however, discovered the method, and it certainly deprives many former opponents of fusion of their last argument. Some prominent Reformers once suggested that, if Mr Wilford became Speaker of the House—a position he admittedly is well capable, of filling—it would help the consummation desired. This opportunity does not for the moment exist, but Mr Speaker's position has to be filled by each Parliament, and the occasion would arise next year. As for developments of the immediate future, it may be predicted that the matter will not go much further along formal lines, but that a small committee representative of both parties will provaitely confer with the object of frankly dealing with obstacles to fusion and methods of overcoming them.

Too Much Fusion. Important as the situation is to the country, it is not without its humorous aspect. In the Wellington North constituency, the sittj£S= member, Sir John Luke, a Reform supporter, has publicly expressed Lis opinion that fusion is' absolutely necessary. Colonel McDonald some time ago announced his intention to stand as an Independent pledged to fusion of the old parties. Recent developments having shown a. prospect of fusion being a completed issue before the electors can make their choice, Colonel McDonald has made the further announcement that he will go to the poll as the first -Nationalist candidate, who before the death of Mr Massey saw what was necessary in. the interests of the country. He does not deny that the probability of two Nationalist candidates standing may increase the chance of a Labour candidate succeeding.

THE ROSKILL SEAT. DISSENSION IN LIBERAL CAMP. WELLINGTON, June 4. "The resolution of the Roskill electorate was not unexpected," says Mr Wilford, "for a {member of our executive was informed that we were to be 'dealt with' because our Auckland Provincial Council would not. recommend Mr Hall Skelton* to us as the LiberalLabour candidate for Roskill. I have a petition which I have shown to the editor of the 'Evening Post,' dated M;y 20, 1925, signed by 24 electors of Roskill, including the secretary of the orLranisat'on in Roskill, asking the execn ii vo to confer tlie official imprimatur of the party on the candidature of Alfred Hall Skelton in the Roskill electors te._ The Auckland Provincial Council, under our constitution must recommend candidates in the Auckland provide for our approval. They considered the request and failed to recommend that gentleman to us for that electorate, and now the electors who petitioned us to have Hall Skelton as our candidate, presumably because they had confidence in our party, passes a furious resolution damning the very organisation they wanted to serve under less than-three weeks ago."

PARTIES AND LOYALTY. DUNEDIN, June 4. The Hon. W. Nosworthy, speaking at fch•> Overseas'Club, said he hoped and believed that the Hon. J. G. Coates wc-Id bo equally worthy of the high esteem-in which the late Prime Minister had been held. He was glad to say that"-the two principal Parties in the House • to-day were absolutely loyal: Though the Liberals were his political opponents, he would give them this credit: that they were actuated by a spirit of loyalty to the Crown and the Errmire to just as great an extent- as were the party in power. There was another' Party, however, he was sorry to say, whose views were questionable.