FUSION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 148, 26 June 1925, Page 6

FUSION

TO-NIGHT'S CAUCUSES

WHAT WILL THE VERDICTS BE?

Fusion ;wiU be a mnci-discussed topic in political qircles for quite a long 'time tinie yet, no doubt,. whatever be^ the outcome- of the caucuses.' of the'•'. Reforni. and/Liberal!. Parties which are to : be held to-night to consider, the; report of ;the "four delegates ' from" each side who. attended the recent conference in Wellington. :: . / -.. : : , - ; ■- .■Naturally /there, is .wide: speculation in and outside; of i Parliament Buildings as to: the outcome of "the meetings, but there seenis to .be a feeling in some quarters that amalgamation is" yet afar off. In the first place,';.■ it is : quite possible that one party may adopt! portions of the joint report'drawn up •■which will be unacceptable to; the•:•'other 'side, and vice versa. : This would very likely leave the way open for a continuance of negotiations, and 'it may • be policy:;' for . either of the parties, to keep this process going as. long as possible in view of what has been widely 'stated—that; the side which- puts itself," off-side" with '.the people by bringing about an abrupt termination of the discussions will ,be in a fair v way-.of..receiving a sharp lesson at the "General Election;. :..<:,.. ■ •'■..'

The fact cannot be gainsaid, ■ however, that there are some" "Parliamentarians who: confess. to a feeling--that,; while many of the rank and file of the:: Reform Party are favourable to.-fusion* the more powerful influences in the party may be sufficient to stave off any definite step towards.amalgamation until after the election. . The Hon.; A. D. M'Leod, for instance, has stated.clearly that the (Reform: Party ,-is 1, not; going to agree as the price of fusion that old and stalwart supporters of '.the party, should be sacrificed, and this Minister's declaration has given rise to the. impression'thatl matters have reached such a stage in the selection of candidates: "in the various electorates, that nothing towards, the object in.view can now be done until the election :is out of the way. -.'..',".:.". . ■,- _ Whether, this is the case or not, there is every possibility. of both caucuses continuing to sit for a long. time tonight,; and there-is:'no guarantee that the decisions reached will be made known immediately. .If it should turn but that the Reform Party rejects amalgamation without further ado, the Prime Minister may decide to go ahead in completing his Cabinet in which the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Massey has yet to be filled. It is said that there is no shortage of competitors for elevation to Ministerial rank. ■■.'■ :