SELF-ABNEGATION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 131, 6 June 1925, Page 8

SELF-ABNEGATION

MR. WILFORD'S OFFER. (RI TELBGSirH.—SPECIAL TO THE POST.) DUNEDJN-, This Day. IJjb "Star," referring to the political situation, says Uiat life conference of the two committees should put to tlio test the- oft-repeated claim that only an imaginary J me of demarcation keeps-the two parties separate so far a 3 principles are concerned, and that it, has really only been the personal element which has intervened as a barrier. Mr »-Wilted „, his offer, has recognised the existence 01 the personal clement, and l.y seeking to eliminate it has done hi* i,tmost to remove all obstacles and jjivo fusion an open road on its .own merits It involves the sacrifice of his own amt.i" tions to decline any offices in the Cabinet winch may be chosen should the fas.on movement develop into a complete success lh« sell-abnegation, if A as not altogether a necessary preliminary, at least makes the way much plainer Ihis proof of disinterestedness is ns W-K f ■nS 'V 8 ""expected, .and Mr Wilford is to be congratulated on his perception of the fact that a leader who has not been entirely satisfactory to his own party m.ght be unacceptable to live other parly- if occupying a portion of prominence in n. fusion of the- two. ll* nnght be niiiialaliiblu" to (he holder, and a source of weakness in tlm fused parly itself. On the basis of sound finance, Mr. Coates hopes for a. progressive reduction of taxation, and with it better public service and a greater .opportunity for the amelioration or social conditions. There is t,lm s -, common basis for the Reform and Yiheral delegations to begin negotiations on. rind the important question is whether it will pi-ovo wide enough for the ideals Tilierl^'beln'l'f 11" 1 ''^ omlntiille(l.°u