The Dominion WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1930. PLACING COUNTRY ABOVE PARTY

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 53, 26 November 1930, Page 10

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1930. PLACING COUNTRY ABOVE PARTY

There has been a good deal of rather vague talk of late, chiefly outside political party circles, favourable to a fusion of the Reform and United Parties. Under the right conditions many people would be ready to give the idea hearty support. The greatest need perhaps in the present difficult times is a strong Government with a sound policy whiqfi it is prepared to stand or fall by—a Government which would inspire in the country the courage and confidence that would materially assist in passing through the strait place where we find ourselves to-day. These essentials cannot and,-in fact, are not'being supplied by a minority Government. It is too busy placating its political opponents to face the facts, too concerned with the hazards of the moment to plan for the future. It lacks drive and force and direction. These ills should be cured for the greater part by fusion if it can be effected on terms that do not involve sacrifice of principle. In his statement published yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition stated the policy points on which the Reform .Party lays emphasis. Mr. Coates does well to stand on at least the more important of these principles which no self-respecting party could throw overboard. Too great a sacrifice can be made for unity and nothing is expedient that is not honourable. But it would be going too far to assume that these stipulations will prove unacceptable to the United Party. The response from the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Ransom, no means unhopeful and it may be that many of his Party are of like mind.' ' . ’ It is true, as Mr. Coates says, that previous offers of co-operation have been repulsed, that Sir Joseph Ward and,. later,. Mr. Forbes, turned their backs on the’fair gestures made and. repeated by the Opposition Leader, and that the United Government preferred to use the Reform Party as a target while leaning on the Labour Party. That is political history which cannot easily be forgotten but which should be overlooked in the national interest. That higher motive will not, however, permit the obliteration of the conditions upon which Mr.- Coates “insists.” The most essential are the tapering-off of public borrowing and. making an end of the rake’s progress with public works and particularly railways construction; the.reduction of costs of production; the removal of the railways from political control; payment of less than standard wages to single men on relief works; and insistence on the principle of national service for defence. „ J

Agreement on these points should. be possible and is worth striving for. To seek factional advantages when so much is at stake is suicidal. Nor should either side say to the other: “We can get on very well without you.” Both should realise that ? by working loyally together they will prosper better. So also will 'the country, whose welfare should come first.