BEFOBM OPPOSITION

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 12, 14 July 1931, Page 8

BEFOBM OPPOSITION

MR. COATES EXPLAINS

A QUESTION OF TRADITION

The proposal that the United and Reform Parties should amalgamate was mentioned by Mr. Coates, Leader of tha Opposition, speaking on Saturday evening at a meeting held under the auspices of tho Junior Reform League, reports the "Christchurch Star." Mr. Coates dealt briefly with the position, setting forth the points that guided him in his refusal to accept the offer.

The matter had the careful consideration of Reform members and supporters throughout the country, he declared, and the consensus of opinion was not in accord with the opinions of those who had asked for the amalgamation. . He was not attempting to discredit the sincerity of the Prime Minister in making the statement, because ho be-, lieved that in Mr. Forbes's view the present difficulty demanded attention for the • claim that was made for a national party. "There are two points of view and 1 ask you to remember that, after all, tho .Reform Party has played a great part in the political history of Now Zealand," stated Mr. Coates. "Prior to taking office, the party had done great work as the Opposition, and that leads to the question whether tradition is worth anything. I think it is and that tradition should play a powerful part in influencing the actions of the country." It was claimed by those who believed that amalgamation was in the interests of the country that it would.be better if there were only two political parties. But lie sincerely believed that if Reform went out to-morrow there would be independents from one end of the country to the other and the resultant position would be more difficult than over. They knew, went on Mr. Coatcs, that the safest course was to maintain parties well-known to the country rather than allow new parties to crop up. It was claimed that Labour would get an advantage out of the three parties, but it cut all round in exactly the same way. It was possible- that ho would reply to further representations, but hewould be .replying on behalf of the Parliamentary party and the constituencies from .which expressions of opinion had been received.