CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 121, 27 November 1928, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE

POLITICAL PARTIES (To the Editor.) Sir,—Now that the elections are over and the verdict has been given against the Reform Party in a most decisive manner, and in favour of the other contesting parties, it must necessarily followthat ...coalition between the Reform I arty and either of the opposing parties is an impossibility without another appeal to the electors, which would undoubtedly result in the United Party being returned with a huge majority. Mr. Coates and his party have had a thankless task to perform during the past three years of depression, but can point with great satisfaction to the result of the effort in the financial stability of the Dominion to-day. At the 1925 elections Mr. Coates was advertised and boosted in true American fashion, until the electors imagined that a super-man had been discovered to control the destinies of this Dominion, and the result was a sweeping majority at the polls for the Coates Party. A Coates "badge" was sufficient to ensure victory in any Reform candidate of average ability. The Coates rocket soared high in all its splendour in 1925, but the stick returned to- earth in 1928 broken and discarded and unfit for further service until thoroughly overhauled and repaired And that is the electors answer to the man who spared neither time nor energy to steer New Zealand through three years of. financial stringency and depression, and, handicapped by certain conditions and circumstances of which the average elector is entirely ignorant. The result of his 'labours will be reaped by others. For anyone to suggest that the Prime Minister has no regrets at the result of the election is a direct libel on' his political career as a sincere, courageous, and .hard-working leader. The Reform Party has fallen, but Mr. Coates is still recognised as a Minister of exceptional ability, whose services the Dominion can ill-afford to lose. I feel confident that the great majority of the electors of New Zealand would be pleased to see him holding office in the Cabinet of his original political leader, Sir Joseph Ward. Timo works wonders and heals many wounds, and it is the sincere wish of every staunch New Zealand elector that out of tho present political chaos will evolve a Government capable and willing to legislate for the great, mass of the people—a Government that will win the confidence and support of the great majority of the electors m every section of the community; a great United Liberal-Labour Party with a policy of legislation for the people by tho people, embracing all that is progressive and in the best interests of the Dominion and the Empire, and for ever removing from our Statute Book everything of a stagnant, non-progressive, and conservative nature. Such a party requires the best brains available, and should number amongst its Ministers the name of Mr. J. G. Coates, 'who as Minister of Railways and Public Works would not only be a tower of strength to the Government but would be studying the best interests of the Dominion in assisting to administer a progressive Liberal policy that would speedly restore New Zealand to that status it held under the SeddonWard Administration. The years of depression, we believe, are passed, and the time is ripe for this fair Dominion to move forward to greater prosperity than it has ever yet experienced. In the words ot the Prime Minister, let us hope that l.arhament will put country before partisanship and carry on. Then will be the dawn of a new era, when unemployment, poverty, and distress will soon-be memories of the past. Whatever can be said for or against the Reform Party Administration, one thing is beyond dispute, that the great majority of the electors of New Zealand have- voted against it, and that verdict is final. Can another election be avoided? If is for the members of Parliament to decide on 4th December. Let their slogan be "country before party" and success for the future is assured.— I am, etc., ; LIBERAL-LABOUR. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Now that the ardour of the election has died down, it is time to think calmly and coolly of the position. We are just recovering from a period of depression for which no political party was responsible, and a stable Government is needed to consolidate the position and take advantage of the rising tide of prosperity now appreciably evident. What is the real difference between the Reform and the United Parties? To the ordinary average New Zealander there is little or none at all, and in the Wellington North electorate, to which I belong, I feel certain that had the Reform candidate been labelled United the' result would have been approximately the same. The difference is between Labour and anti-Labour. This is a time to remember Joseph Chamberlain's clarion call to think imperially" and think in terms of the nation, not of party. New Zealanders are sometimes accused of having no national spirit. With the large proportion of new members,' native born, elected, an opportunity has arisen to demonstrate that we have. Let them give a lead and "encourage the idea of a coalition Government, and I would like to hear from other correspondents their views on this subject. It must be remembered that it is the taxpayer who provides the money, and time and money spent iv petty party politics brings no grist to the national mill.—l am, etc,, NEW ZEALANDER. 20th November.