FUSION OFFER.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20225, 1 May 1931, Page 10

FUSION OFFER.

MR COATES'S INTENTION. PARTY TO CONSIDER PROPOSAL CAREFULLY. CTKE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, April 30. Tho Reform Party is considering the implications of the Prime Minister's offer on behalf of the United Party to form a National Party. The Leader of the Reform Party, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, stated to-day that the proposal was important, and with the session over there -was no urgent call for immediate decision. His Party therefore proposed to take time to consider the whole matter in all its aspects. A public statement would® be made in due course. The Prime Minister will do nothing further until the Reform Party makes a statement. He attended the opening of the new wing of Massey Agricultural College to-day, and although he will be in Wellington to-morrow, he will give no further consideration to the fusion issue in the meantime. It is his intention at the moment to spend the weekend at his home at Cheviot.

The By-Election. Interest attaches to the forthcoming byelection for the Hauraki seat, rendered vacant by the death of Mr A. W. Hall, Reform member. So far there are three candidates in the field representing Reform, Labour, and Country Party, and it is understood that the United Party deliberately withheld its nomination in view of the offer of fusion contemplated by it. It is considered that the Party will take no steps in the direction of choosing a candidate until the Reform Party makes its promised statement in reply to the Prime Minister.