A NATIONAL PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 122, 27 May 1925, Page 6

A NATIONAL PARTY

AND A DANGER TO LIBERALISM

AUCKLAND "STAR'S" VIEWS.

(BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO THE TOST.) AUCKLAND,. This Da) Beferring to the fusion decision, tho "Star" says : "There should be a National Part}', which would embrace all anti-Labour elements, and conduct the business of the country on what are called broad national lines, or some such pleasant-sounding phrase, which really does not mean much. The arguments of the Reform i'usionists are plausible, bub they ignore the considerations which, supported by political experience, are most important. Whatever party was tailed, it would continue to hold and to be identified in the public mind with the conservative elements in the nation. There is a good deal to be said for Conservatism as a political creed, but the reason for the birth and existence of Liberalism is that the Liberal thinks his the better creed. -The Reformers are fond of saying that their party is really Liberal in feeling. However much truth fchers msy-ba in this, it remains a fact

that the party has a Conservative wing which has always been potent in the counsels of the leaders, and would continue to be so in the new party. In other words, fusion would expose Liberalism to the danger of being swallowed by Conservatism. What, then, would be the position of many Liberals, especially che young and more radicallymindeu V Would they not be disposed to turn from the fused party on the ground that it was the heir of Conservatism, and join the Labour Party 1 That party) it must be remembered, would be the official Opposition, and as such it would attract from all quarters votes of men and women dissatisfied with the Government. In the circumstances it would sooner or later become the Government. The_ three-party system may be inconvenient, but the alternative might be much worse for the country. . . The wise policy in our opinion 'is for Liberalism to preserve its identity, and to insist upon electoral reform. Under the prGsenfc systsni mi election with three parties would be a gamble. Electoral reform before the end of the year should be practicable, and from it we would get a Government representative of the political feelings and aspirations of the people of the Dominion."