SHOULD CO-OPERATE

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

SHOULD CO-OPERATE

REFORM PAPER'S WARNING

ADVICE! TO MR. COATES

Commenting on' the political situation the day before Mr. Coates arrived in Christchurch, "The Press," which has consistently opposed any suggestion that the Reform Party should lose its identity by merging with any other political group, remarked that it was difficult to account for the vehemence with, which Mr. Coates denied the suggestion on Wednesday that he had been consulted about the Unemployment Bill. "Nothing would do the country moro harm at the present time than for the Reform Party to get itself into a position in which it appeared to bo angling for the votes of those who have been called on to make sacrifices; or indeed for votes of any kind," said "The Press." "Mr. Coates was entitled to say plainly that he had not ec-en the Bill until 'it appeared in the hands of members,' .but ho should have been content with that unless the Prime Minister neither consulted him nor attempted to consult him, nor gave any indication at all that the .co-operation of Reorm would be welcome. It is absolutely imperative at present fliat thoso who approve of sacrifice should say so, and it would be a calamity if the impression were created that the Reform Party is less eager to say so than it ought to be. Mr. Coates will have to bo very earoful if he is to prevent this impression from deepening. . The Reform Party is committed to co-opera-tion as far as that can be given without violence to its principles, and while there eaiv be no doubt of its help during what remains of this session, it must not allow anyone: to say, or anyone to feel, that its veal concern is with what follows 'the session.?' , "Mr. Coates is in a more difiicuu position than the Leader of any party has occupied within the memory of those still in Now Zealand politics. .The fusion offer, whether this was simplicity or craft, contained nothing when it was carefully examined but a suggestion that one leader should hold the other s hand while both took a leap in ,the dark. But very few people examined it carefully, or have examined it yet, and the position now is that the Reform Party is believed by thousands of electors to have thrown away a national 'opportunity for sectional ends. It is even believed by many of Mr. Coates s own followers that his offer of co-opera-tion was Wt sincere, and all this is playing into the hands of the opportunists and adventurers. The situation is indeed so critical that it cannot be allowed to continue. "Whether the General Election is a few weeks or a ■few months away it is too close to permit of any further-uncertainty about tlio attitude of the two parties opposed to Labour. Fusion, since that involves a search for and an agreement on fundamental principles, should be left out of the question altogether except in a temporary aiifl superficial sense. Apart from anything else there is no time to consider much more than the formulation of a common policy to meet a common danger; and we do not mean merely the danger of a majority for Labour. If wo presuppose that a majority of the public want a Socialist Government we must admit that they are entitled to have it, and no combination of. the opposing parties' can or should prevent them. But the danger is not that a majority of the people want a Socialist Government. It is that those who do not want Socialism may not have a clear opportunity of saying so.

"The clanger. that particularly threatens the Reform Party i 3 the fact that, if it is not very careful, it will find itself in a position in which it appears to be risking the fate of tho community in a gamble for victory and power. It is the natural enemy of Socialism, and may quite safely, as the strongest and most compact party in the House, offer the United Party a little more than a vague, though sincero, measure of co-operation in balancing the Budget. There is no reason why Mr. Coates should not propose some common meeting ground, or at least indicate ' more plainly that lie is willing to join in the search for one. There is no risk, after the repeated appeals by the Prime Minister, of compromising the Reform Party with the public if tho negotiations should break down; but even if there were, the situation is so serious-that the risk ought 'to' be taken."