CUT AND DRIED

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

CUT AND DRIED

REFORM LEADERSHIP,

SANE, STABLE GOVERNMENT

.WANTED,

:The "definite' statement that, in his 'opinion, everything was cut and dried £or the selection of th_e new leader_ of

the Eeform Party, and that there would bo practically a unanimous vote at Wednesday's caucus, was made by Mr. R: A. Wright, M.P., speaking at. Lyall Bay last night. Mr. Wright was noncommittal on the question of fusion with the Liberals, but said that what the great majority, of the people of the Dominion wanted was a stable, sane Government, that could be depended \ipon to be fair and just to all. He did not consider an early election likely. . The political situation in the past three years; said Mr. Wright, had been most difficult and trying, and it ■ had been marvellous that the House had been held together without, a dissolution. Under the very able leadership of the late Mr. Massey, the Government had carried on without a majority. It was usually necessary to have a working majority of six or eight, but the Eefovm Government, since last election, had only had 38 supporters out of a House of 80 on which it could rely, and with these and three Independents it had been able to carry on. NOTHING BUT TROUBLES.

The Government had had nothing but troubles since it came into office. First there was the 1913 strike, then tlie war, and now it had been bereft of its leader. However, he was not superstitious, and did not attach importance to any of those happenings, which would have occurred to any party in power. Now the party was called upon to select a new leader. He believed the party had made up its mind, that the thing was cut and dried, ami that there would be no contest at tho caucus on Wednesday or Thursday, or however long it took to conclude the business.-"I believe that there will "be practically a unanimous vote," said Mr. Wright. The second question which the caucus would have to discuss would be much more'difficult, that was, whether there should be a fusion between the Liberal Party and the Reform Party. He had no doubt but that that question would be debated from every standpoint. There was a difference of opinion in the ranks of the Reform Party on that issue, and he was not prepared to express any opinion as to what would be done. A very great deal depended on it, and while a; great deal of argument could bo used in favour of fusion, there were arguments which could be used against it. The matter would be. thoroughly thrashed out, but ho believed, and felt confident, whatever, was done, that- the party would be still able to carry on under the new leader, and that it would call npon the country to. give the new Government at least a reasonable opportunity of making good. From what he knew of the people of New Zealand, they were British in their instincts, and, as the new leader would probably have a free hand in selecting his colleagues, he believed the country would give the new Government some opportunity of drawing its breath, and to show of what metal it was composed. If it did not make good, then it would have to pass out and make place for some other.

An election might take place soon— no one could tell what was going to happen, but,, although it was quite on the cards that a dissolution might take place before the end of the year, he, personally, did not think so. Ho thought the present Parliament would be allowed to run for its full term. REFORM NOT HOSTILE TO BONA FIDE WORKERS. In dwelling upon the necessity for commencing organising work right away in readiness for the General Election, Mr. Wright pointed to the fact that the Labour Party was continually at work in this respect. The Reform Party as a whole was not hostile to the bona, fide worker, but it was very strongly opposed to any body of people who were out to destroy our institutions. Their extreme Labour opponents wanted to destroy the whole system of society in the hope of building up something of a more glorious and beautiful character, where everybody would live under their I own vine a.nd fig tree, where there would be work for all, and any amount ofholidays. If it could be- done everybody would be only too willing to increase other people's wages and salaries from top to bottom, but those things were.not always possible As a matter of fact, if the wealth of the world were distributed' 'equally amongst the whole human family, it would work out. at about three half-pence or twopence a piece. The people who were mainly opposed to the Reform Party had apparently lost sight of the fact that the division of wealth that they were always talking about would have to be made universally. Of course, if the wealth of a small community in which there were some wealthy people were divided amongst a.few people, the bonus would be substantial, but ' that was hardly the way to look at it. Olioso people who wanted to see a stable and sane government in existence must take a live interest in elections, and cast th el r votes. The great majority, of the people of New Zealand wanted to see a stable Government, that was a Government that could be depended upon to do the fair and thing to all sections of the community, a Government that would not, be biased o"therwi, Pe a IC"lar direcUon ' reliSious °r

"NO RELIGION IN POLITICS." Z' 1 ,do! I'fc believe in the introduction Wridir On"T^ Or PoHtics'" said MrshonM V, 1 « c^ V° -lelißiovs questions should be left entirely out of politics." to fe 8* .* aat would endeavour to deal fairly with every section of the "JTt&^v 016 G ™™™^ that was wanted m New Zealand