FUSION DISCUSSIONS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 151, 30 June 1925, Page 6

FUSION DISCUSSIONS

.STILL IN PROGRESS

ATTITUDE OF REFORMERS'

ARE THEY FRANK?

;. Tho negotiations " between .the -Lib- t Erals and the Reformers -for^ fusion are* still- in progress, but it-is expected that, within the next few days a decision will. ■- be ■ reached one way or the other."',.".'.. •; . The Liberal Party, which met "yester-: day" afternoon to receive the' proposals: and resolutions passed by the. Reform 'caucus,.ion. Eriday, -last,!, met -/again this morning, after-which the delegates ;from the respective parties, assembled for fur-; ther discussion. It will now be neces-; !sary for the Reformers .to meet to; hear; ■what: the Liberals are prepared .to do: .as a result of their, latest deliberations.

:/The Liberals ;'\vill naturally, bedesir-: ."■ ous"'of the'; matter -settled * one; . .way.^or; iihe- other, > otherwise it will.^b'e. 'difficult for them-to do anything butremain' passive./ While'discussions 'are . proceeding it* will/be: * difficult;* for Mr." vWilford^to move a no-confidence amend-. iment, .ii.he. so/ desires, during".: ttie Ad-dress-in-Reply debate, ..which' opens- to- ' night,.. and his party /must, -thefefpre, preserve, the. neutral. attitude.:,whichi.the: : :(Liberal;Leader/outlined in..the; House of ■"Representatives last night when the' La-; -Ibo'ur. no-confidence 'vote .was ;taken.^'lt ■was. .noticeable .", that : Mr., Isitt : "refrained ; from;.voting;in .last night's-division,:al-'; Jthough .Colonel Allen ~\ -Bell -,' and;-;Mri .Witty.,went into the same, lobby- asHhe Eeformers.. Mr: Isitt; went Vout with, the ■ :: It iis understood -that Colonel*' 'Bell. and Messrs. Isitt and Witty accept-". *-"ed; an/invitation:,to:*attend.Uasfc Greek's: ;caucus: of ;the Reform-Party, v, ■::'.';.':; -.-■' "-While "there is so much ..talk of pos"-.. ; sible;fusion in the airj some resentment _'is = feltinv Liberal circles,-both in ,;Wel-! ■lingtori.arid other parts of .the country,! (that the "Reformers are busily organising jon pirty;lines' for;the coming .General. *^Election. v It Vis -stated! thatV as .sooi'aai (the fusion negotiations were definitely ar-" iranged the Liberals called" an armistice .-;and,,.ceased ,fire, .putting)an':;end.?tb or-v "gahisingTarid.propagandaV work'oh -allsides.;: :facfc- thafivtho; 'Reformers; ihave gone ahead "has. xaised -the query -as to wKether they;are'really -frank ; -in; --what_ they.aro doing on the am'algama-; . tion issue. "Rightly or wrongly,'-Liberals sjfeel: somewhat aggrieved;at:-whatjis:.;'com-Tsidered^.to^be an: lack 'of canVdour on .the* .part;of the ■ Reform Party. ■ <■■ .-_ln . answer to".- the ; Reform ■. assertion "! that; fusion can .scarcely be arranged be-: Sfore: the election, because of possib'le-dif-' \ficulties over-the selection-of-canSidates ■■■arid, the .■necessity/'to"vappease local*: inter-' jests- and.,personal -'aspirations,-; ,the Lib|.?rals ■ say that tire :Reformefs a,re -creat-, jing^ ■ mpre^difficulties;:' with. ;;everyl: fresh '..candidate -they,.announce. "". ■ :"-... ■:; A message, from Auckland states that; ithe-Auckland, Provinciar Council.of the' ■)Liberal-Labouiv:"FederatiOn: .i last';night ■ passed the following resolution; 'unani.jmously :—"-:"." ■X/ : i '.- "-.:;-V :..;t..; :y\- .;.;-.';;-

;.-'■• j... -That".this-executive}:'wishes to:place "SCon'record its - highest", appreciation of . f.- : Mr.-;,rWilford's- .:-:: : mariliriess;/s-pluck," •straightTforwardriessj:.V;arid:;. fabilitv: in i the/: present crisis, arid; to .'assure "him .of its, undivided and.contiriued; support ...and its/absolute /faith '.in his/leader.ship.; ■'..'-.'•;--.'.>;.-■; ■'■»:,-^-:-- . "\:: --.-.■; 'y- .■-■.-„..■'