THE PRIMARY PRODUCER.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20089, 19 November 1930, Page 11

THE PRIMARY PRODUCER.

ECONOMIC SITUATION. REFORM AND COUNTRY PARTIES CONFER. 'JT.ESS iSSOCIATIOH TBLXORAX.) AUCKLAND, November 18. There were fourteen representatives present last evening at a consultation between members of thq Reform and Country Parties. Mr A. A. Boss, president of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, was in the chair. Reform members present were the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Messrs K. S. Williams, F. Waits, H. G. Dickie, 11. M. Campbell, and A. Hamilton (Wallace). The proceedings were held in camera, and the following statement was issued to-day:— "Members of the Reform and Conntry Parties met last night for the purpose of considering the present serious economic position of the primary producer owing to the continued fall in values for farming products. There was a full consideration of methods of reducing costs of production." Officially no further information is available, but developments of a political character are anticipated. Rumour Denied. A suggestion circulated to-day that the conference was held to consider the amalgamation of the Parties is emphatically denied by the two spokesmen. the Rt. Hon J. G. Coates and Mr A. A. Ross. "We considered nothing but economic questions," said Mr Coates this afternoon. "It is quite incorrect to say that political matters were reviewed. The, Party representatives met simply to exchange ideas on the position of the New Zealand primary producer at the present juncture." "There is no truth in the suggestion that an amalgamation of the Reform and Country Parties was discussed," said Mr lloss. "The official report states that the conference was called to consider the serious economic position of the primorv producer and that is what took place. Nothing else was discussed. So far as amalgamation between the Country Party and any other political Partv is concerned, I can only say that while it is prepared to uphold any Party that will give effect to the proposals it advocates, the Country Party has no' intention whatever of amalgamating with any other political organisation."