The Lessons of Hauraki

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 221, 15 June 1931, Page 11

The Lessons of Hauraki

Sir. —I and many others have derived considerable amusement from the fanciful “deductions” of your Reform correspond; ent “Malvernian” on the recent Hauraki election, in which Reform had their candidate returned in place of the late Mr. Hall, who also was a supporter of Reform —a wonderful achievement truly I “Malvernian’’ then proceeds in manner most biased to deduce that following the Hauraki contest the general election will result in the return of -15 Reform. 24 Labourites, and !> United (or Nationalist) candidates. What wonderful deductions ; what convincing reasoning! Your correspondent’s wishes in this connection have certainly inspired the thought. But I question very much whether he has succeeded in deluding even himself into such an absurd belief, and I am positive that the many Reform sunporters who are anxious that during this crisis our representatives should combine and work for the common good, do not agree with “Malvernian's” views. They have asked Mr. Coates to co-operate with Mr. Forbes in the latter's honest, straightforward. and unselfish desire to place New Zealand's interests before that of party, and if the Beader of the Opposition persists in placing his pnrtv before his country he and “Malvernian” will experience an unpleasant shock. The “fusion tactics” as described by your correspondent were certainly not put forward with the object of saving Mr. Forbes—that gentleman is not seeking personal aid; they were advanced for the sole purpose of saving, not the Prime Minister, but New Zealand. ' Party hueksterers. short-visioned, selfish. pettifogging politicians may not desire fusion, or an unselfish amalgamation of interests for the benefit of the people of New Zealand. Probably they. too. are due for an unpleasant surprise. But to state publicly, as your correspondent has stared, that “the Hauraki election has proved that the great mass of t.he electors do not. desire fusion.” is insulting the intelligence of many thousands. The United victory at Waipawa (where a strong Reform seat was lost in a straight-out contest) has surely more significance than the fact that Reform retained a Reform seat at Hauraki. But to contend that it was a reflex of Dominion opinion would be just as absurd as “Mnlvernian's” distorted conception of the political position to-dav. —I am, etc.. UNBIASED. Wellington. June 10.