COMPLETE UNION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 179, 13 May 1935, Page 6

COMPLETE UNION

REFORM AND UNITED PARTIES.

GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, May 12. Amalgamation of tne Reform and United forces in national politics has been effected. It is officially announced by the representati© executive coinr mittee which carried out the negotiations for a political understanding that the new organisation has begun operations under the designation of the National Political Federation, with headquarters in Wellington, the offices being in Kelburn Chambers. Mr I>. Ardell, who recently retired from the Department of Internal Affairs, has been appointed organiser, for the federation, and begins his duties forthwith. He has had wide experience of national organisation, and has an almost unique knowledge of the varied associations and representative men throughout the Dominion. Complete union of the Reform and United parties in Parliament, and also in the country, was foreshadowed last month in a joint statement as to the future of the Coalition Government by the Prime Minister, Mr Forbes (leader of the United Party) and the Minister of Finance, Mr Coates (leader of the Reform Party). Ne&d for Co-operation.

Before Mr Forbes left Wellington for London on that occasion the respective leaders declared til at in their opinion it was necessary that all those interested in the good government of this country should continue to work in closest co-operation. "It is eminently! desirable," the Ministers continued, "that in these difficult days party politics should be restrained in order that our full energies may be devoted to the elimination of distress among all sections of our people, and the promotion of continued economic recovery, for there are those' who persist in capitalising the distress of some of our fellow citizens in support of their own political objecives." The leaders also pointed out that the parties had co-operated loyally and effectively for nearly tour years, during which time they were encouraged by the support received throughout the country to believe that the continuation of such co-operation was esseiir tial for the Dominion: s welfare, if the measures to restore confidence and stability that had been initiated were to be carried through to a successful conclusion. They expressed themselves as being firmly convinced that the future called for continued ettoft in the interests of the Dominion. Much To Be Done.

As regards future policy the Ministers in their joint statement made it clear that although tne worst of inevitably drastic measures had been dealt with they recognised that much remained to be done, and. that as conditions altered overseas it might be necessary to make further internal adjustments. "These are not times for the splitting up of our people into factions," concluded the Ministers. "We feel that any material change in poTTcyi will create a sense of insecurity and, perhaps, chaos, and that our people will best be served by the continued cooperation of the Coalition group as a national Government."

Now that the amalgamation of the parties has been achieved with the approval of their respective organisation throughout the country ft follows that all their activities will be carried out henceforward with complete unity as a National Government and that all the National Political Federation's candidates at the General Eleo.tion will stand as Nationalists.