FUSION PROPOSALS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 10

FUSION PROPOSALS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The decision of tho Kefovm .Party not to accept Mr. Forbes's proposals ior a union of forces is a matter tor proioimd regret. It is folly to go back to past history of political-.warfare .m New Zealand as was clearly pointed out in your able leader last ■ night, in. view of the changed conditions of to-day. Mr. Coates s offer, is, "Be guided by us during the coming session, and when the election follows we will fight you for all we are worth!" And what will be the result? With the moderate forces divided, Labour's opportunity may come, and a repetition o£. Australia's tragedy may follow. Let there be no doubt —Labour will poll its ' heaviest ■ vote at next election. Its avowed policy during the emergency session, right through, was to harden the workers round its banner; and they are in an undoubted majority in the country. Therefore, it behoves the moderates to get together and present a united front. Mr. Forbes has done his part. I and many others still hope tlie Reform Party will respond and accept his overtures. What 1 think is needed is some leading man or men to act as intermediaries, as was_ the case with tbc- formation of the National War Cabinet.—l am,'etc., . ... ■ COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY. ' (To the" Editor.) Sir, —You can have no idea of the sigh of relief which all true Reformers gave when Mr. Coates's statement regarding fusion was made "public. We are thankful that our party is led by a man. We are proud of our party, its ideals, its past, its leader, and its future, and to throw all this away, as a very doubtful, solution of a temporary trouble, seemed to us to be sacrificing too much.. My fear was this: I know the inside of the party, and I know the viewpoint of Mr. Coates—the country's interest and not self. The public will soon realise that to have fused would have been to throw away, the substance in an attempt to grasp the1 shadow. The reply will appeal to every sporting sense, and only the jealously-interested will quibble.—l am, etc.,

PROUD EEFOEMEE