POLITICAL POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 121, 26 May 1925, Page 8

POLITICAL POSITION

TO-MORROW'S CAUCUS

OPINION AGAINST IMMEDIATE

FUSION

, DIFFICULTIES' IN THEW WAsY s

-Reform •members of Parliament are how assembling in' Wellington in readiness for to-morrow afternoon's caucus of - the party, at which the new leader ■is to be chosen, and the all-important question of making overtures, to the Liberals on the question of amalgamation is to be discussed.

.While it seems that the choice of the leadership of the party will.not take very long to dispose of, although it is quite on the cards that several alternative names-will be suggested, the bulk jof Reform opinion, bo far as it could bo ascertained to-day, appears to be definitely against making any -move towards fusion before the General Election. _ For the present, therefore, fusion, though not as dead as the dodo, appears to be m a; state of coma. It may revive during the General Election campaign—at least, that is the best that some leading members of the Eeform ■ TTy J Ca, n:hope fo^ Jt at tlle present.- ---„„, Undoubtedly, fusion is going to receive some consideration at to-morrow's caucus, but from the Eeform point of yiewthereare said to be rear and very Tracticaldifficulties in the way. Allocation of Cabinet portfolios is only one of the hurdles to be surmounted.- It is pointed out. that when the Reformers made- overtures to the Liberals in January, 1923,; the negotiations, or • what there was of them, came to nought because the Liberal price of amalgamation >vas to.o high. The Liberals, it is said •made' the situation impossible, first'of ■?'!>' »y asking for. the elimination of the date Mr. Massey as the leader of tlie proposed new combination, and, secondJy, by asking for representation in the Cablet on a-basis of equal numerical strength with the -Reformers. Although the leadership issue has now assumed a changed phase, it is submitted by Heiormers that it is now the duty of the liberals rf they are desirous of assisting to present a united front to the Labour Party, to make the first advance in favour of amalgamation in order that the. merits of their terms might receive «ne..-and*, proper ..consideration. If - the liberals: asked for equal representation jii tbo.Gabinet.it l&contended that their present numbers, in the-House in comparison with, the Eeformers .would not justify such a request being granted, as, eliminating those- with Independent lean tliey.. jißmber. only. 18, as against tho Reformers 1 38. Further, it wa! con-; tendeclthat the new Leader of Hie Reform J?arty must have a- free hand in Selecting his Cabinet,, and if he had to ■make way; for even three or four Lib-' S"0 -wonjd be raising difficulties with Jnemhers.of Jus own party, which would ,p.r.o_bab]y tend to: create heartbnrnin X and s-consegueiifc- delicate situation. Even as it-is* there is likely to be competi--tion.ior, elevation to Cabinet rank if the vacancy caused by, Mr. Massey's demise is. to. be; filled, and that in itself presents a problem which at any time mieht lead to rebelhon on the part of disgruntledLonef Then, again, there was always the risk'that the Liberals • might ask for the formulation of a policy embodying- some of the Liberal Party's planks which are altogether unacceptable io'the'Eeform Party. A demand ■fop-pectoral reform in the way of proportional representation might present an intricate problem straight away. It would; it was considered, be an intolerable position for a new leader to be chosen, and then for him to be told that lie'must make overtures to the Liberals lor a'fusipn- when,, perhaps, he himself w^d prefer to have a free hand to sum up .the situation for himself, and please fllinself,as,to,what course he wished to pursue. --If he were, against fusion, but was'told'-.that he wouldvhave to go on ivitltit; an immediate crisis would m-ob-■ably/'ai'isei'.':'"'■■■■•-"■• ;: • ■ ''

,The better .policy, it was. maintained, was for both.the Reform and Liberal Parties to wait-.nhlil the General Election before pressing the amalgamation issue imduly. Certainly it would be unwise to do anything during the coining session of Parliament, because members had been returned pledged-either to one party or the other, and for them to break their party ..pledges before receiving a man-, elate from .their respective electorates to «lo so would ' amount" practically to a: breach ,of faith with the electors. On' Ihe.other .hand, the position would be totally ■different, after the election if candidates were returned pledged to support a, fusion, and the creation of a iiew "party in the event of their own '!%&-' being in,a. minority in the House. -The question of fusion, therefore, really amounted to one that the people themselves; should determine by instructing .candidates, at. the election as to what course they wero to follow once it, was seen that danger was likely to arise by perpetuating _ the_ three-party system. Then, again, it was advanced as a further barrier to fusion at. the present moment that the Reform Party was now ■working ou the policy laid down by Mr _Ma,ssey,. and that it would be disrespectful to Mr. Massey's memory to dc-•part.-from- that- programme before the present Parliament had run its course. Once the coming session was got out of the way, however, it would be time enough to talk of possible fusion. . It is stated in Reform circles tha£ there is a distinct possibility of several prominent members of the Liberal Party turning over to Reform after the close of the coming session. For this reason :tho Reform Party had more to gain by waiting rather than taking pracipitate.action.... .