"MOST GENEROUS OFFER."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 9

"MOST GENEROUS OFFER."

• MR. FORBES AND FUSION. PRAISE FROM INDEPENDENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) . NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. ■ "In his fusion offer to the Reform party,; Mr. Forbes has made the. most generous offer to a political opponent ever known' in the history of "the British Empire,"' declared Mr. W J. Poison, Independent M.P. for Stratford, -in. a speech to a gathering of farmers.. } 'The aim of the Government, he said, was the greatest good for the. greatest number. It might be found necessary to increase taxation. Those who had been.fortunate in life should not mind .giving up a little to, help less fortunate. . . "Mr. Forbee has seen- the position and is determined to .face: it. He has : gallantly tackled a most abominable task,' , continued Mr. Poison. There had been only • two , courses open. New Zealami must honour its contracts or repudiate them.; Of course, no one thought of repudiation. Therefore, since New Zea land's contracte were to? be honoured, it -was necessary that economies be effected and that taxation be increased. j : "The position fe so serious that then cannot be any party point of viewonly a national one," stated Mr. Poison "It-ie therefore necessary that the pettv differences of party be abolished and that the-more moderate parties, at least. combine for the good of the country.' .