PARTY FUSION

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 171, 16 April 1931, Page 8

PARTY FUSION

Moderates’ Interests PETITION TO LEADERS Determined Movement DANGER OF DIVISION Unremitting pressure is being exercised by certain sections of the business community in Wellington upon the Reform and United parties in Parliament for a coalescence of their political interests. A double petition urging this move and largely signed by influential commercial men in the city is ready for presentation to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. \V. Forbes, as leader of the Government, and the Rt. Hon, J. G. Coates, as leader of the Reform Party. The movement is not a new one, but it has taken definite shape during the past week or two by the circulation among business men of this petition, the prayer of which is for unity among the moderate political schools of thought in Parliament with a view to closing the ranks and giving the country a strong and able Administration equal to the exceptional demands of the present difficult times. The imminence of the general election is also emphasised, with the danger of division at the polls. It is not intended that the merit of the petition shall be reflected merely by the numbers of its signatories. An attempt has been made to induce the support of men who represent in the truest sense of the word the business community. Opinions Differ. Heads of large mercantile firms, some of which have their, head offices outside the Dominion, have been approached. Many of them have attached their signature. Some of them, believing that the retention of the party system in the House of Representatives is the best ultimately for the Dominion, have refused to sign, preferring to await the spin of the political wheel when the time comes for the Government to appeal to the country toward the end of the current year. “I signed the petition because I believe coalescence of the United and Reform Parties is the only solution of our present political difficulties,” the manager of one of the largest firms in the city declared when questioned about the document. “It is thought by the promoters that if the parties retain their individuality and face the people upon policies which are substantially the same, neither of them will be returned with a working majority in the House after the general election. If, on the other hand, a satisfactory arrangement can be made and the moderate factions are persuaded to merge in the common pursuit of sound and rational government, the shadow of a Labour Government, which is now very real, will vanish.” Movement Among Farmers. In addition to business interests in the city, it is learned that a movement is being organised among the farmers to urge fusion between the United and Reform parties. “I find upon inquiry that any candidate who stood in a farming constituency as a definite opponent of fusion would get a very rough time,” declared the manager of a firm which deals extensively with farmers and handles farmers’ finance and farm requirements. “The farmers, like a great body of business men, feel that the political situation should be adjusted to meet the national emergency, and they consider a Reform-United merger would be the most satisfactory method of adjustment.” The Leader of the Opposition. Right Hon. J. G. Coates, stated when approached last evening that he had heard a rumour of a petition that was being prepared for presentation to the Prime Minister and himself as leaders respectively of the United and Reform parties, urging coalescence. “Nothing has reached me, he added, “beyond the vaguest rumour, which might not be true. But if any proposal is made to me as leader of my party and it is of sufficient importance, it will be considered by. the whole party and not only by me as leader.”

Mr. Coates’s Attitude. Tht views of Mr. Coates upon the question of fusion were clearly stated when the question was raised a month or two ago. At that time Mr. Coates declared that while the interests of New Zealand were his party’s first consideration, there were several basic points of policy which the narty believed were essential if the country were to be piloted satisfactorily through its present economic difficulties, and its administrative affairs conducted in a sound and prudent manner. These points, numbering seven, upon which he insisted, were: Tapering off in borrowing; reduced costs so that producers could meet world prices; a policy of derating to ease the farmer’s burden of reading costs; removal of railways from political control; expenditure of borrowed money upon uneconomic railway lines to cease'; relief wages to be below the standard rate; defence service to.be based upon principle of national service, with the abolition of night parades. Upon the question of fusion, as upon other aspects of the present political manoeuvring, the Reform Party holds a tactical advantage, as it has the power to defeat the Government at any moment. But the discussions that have so far been pursued within the parties have shown a very real possibility of anything but unity resulting if fusion were undertaken upon the tentative terms advanced. Many Requests Made. Even some of those who have the fusion ideal in view are inclined to the belief that unless a working and workable team is formed from the combined resources of the two parties, any effort at coalescence before the dark clouds begin to clear, from the political horizon would be fruitless. It is known, however, that both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are in receipt of frequent communications urging fusion. Whether the pressure of these requests will become irresistible will probably be decided . when, the petition of city business men is officially placed before the party leaders in a few days’ time.