COALITION.
AN AUCKLAND OPINION. [By Tkleghaph.— b'PECLtVL to The Post.] AUCKLAND, This Day. As far as can be ascertained, the feeling of the Auckland farming community is not cordially in favour of a coalition as proposed by the Otago branch 'of the Farmers' Union, but rather one of hope for the success of their candidates at the next election. "It seems to me," said Mr. Garland, secretary of the Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union, when approached on the subject, "that New Zealand politics are passing through a transition stage, and the time is not ripe yet for any such talk of coalition, and neither party really seems to wish it, as far as I can judge. Until such time as the electors have had an opportunity of giving their decision, no person on either side of the House dare say that a coalition shall or must take place. There is no doubt much ability exists on both sides of the House amongst the Liberals of anti-Socialist thought. Personally lam not at all sure that cohesion would not save the country a great deal of expense and much heartburning, and would probably bring the laws of the country into conformity with good government and sound administration." Asked if he agreed that the interests of the farming community would be greatly benefited could cohesion of the two parties be arranged on a satisfactory basis, he replied that his personal opinion was entirely in accord with that point, but of course he 'ould not say whether the feeling of the Fat Hiel's' Union in Auckland would be in that direction. The basis of cohesion which to his mind would only be satisfactory, would include the optional tenure, Customs for revenue purposes only, ratepayers' franchise for local bodies, and settlemsnt of the native lands difficulty on the freehold basis. "I don't think," Mr. Garland concluded, "it will be very
long before the whole of fch© farming* community and the 'middle party' combine, and then coalition might appear on the horizon, but after all the idea is premature, and must wait till the-elec-tors have given their decision."-
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue LXXVI, 1 July 1908, Page 3
Word Count
353COALITION. Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue LXXVI, 1 July 1908, Page 3
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