SIR J. PARR'S VIEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 10

SIR J. PARR'S VIEWS

"WRECKING THE REFORM PARTY"

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, 3rd May. "Australia proves that fusion docs not attain its desired end. There, the result of fusion has been to put the Labour Party in power," said Sir James Parr, at a garden party given in his honour, expressing his disapproval of the Prime Minister's proposal for the merging of tho Keforin and United Parties in a National Government. Sir James said that the fusion proposal involved tho merging, or rather the submerging, of the Reform Party, and ho viewed tho project with. some misgiving. "I have returned from Europo with tho profound conviction," he said, "that it is vitally necessary to tho political health and safety of tho modern State to have a strong Conservative Party. In nearl}' every country there is a Conservative Party, which • stands for sano and. orderly progress, for law and loyalty, for moulding the existing economic system for tho benefit of the underdog. Everywhere tho Conservative Party is the strongest bulwark, not only against Socialism, but against, that poisonous Communism which is entrenched in Europo and threatens the whole world." "In these circumstances, is it to New Zealand's interest's to blot out the Reform Party? If it has to be wiped out I for one would be very sorry. Might not tho desired end be equally served by a temporary short partnership to frame the necessary measures in Parliament'? Ought not Parliament to face tho electors in due course in November, when the people themselves may solve the problem" "Coalitions arc-foreign to English temperament, and English instinct against them is sound. They arc never satisfactory. .There will always arise personal disappointments, jealousies, and distrust —things fatal to good government. After all, we know nothing of the policy and programme of this proposed new party. Is there not some other way of saving the country than by wrecking the Reform Party?"