FUTURE OF THE COALITION

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 35, 10 August 1934, Page 8

FUTURE OF THE COALITION

When questioned on Wednesday afternoon regarding a memorial from members of the United Party asking for a Government caucus "to consider the permanent merger of the Reform and United branches of the Coalition," the Prime Minister stated that he knew nothing of the matter. "I have not received any memorial," he said. If Mr. Forbes really "knows nothing of the matter" he is certainly much more out of touch than we believed him to be. United and Reform members, as their leaders should know, have been concerned with 'this question for some time past. Possibly they have not been as outspoken as they should have been at the official caucuses. The fact that they have permitted reports be issued that everything was quite satisfactory, suggesting perfect amity and easy complacence, supports the idea that the uneasiness has not been expressed. As Mr. Forbes knows nothing of the matter it is obvious that he should be told. The movement is not to be dismissed as mere dissatisfaction of the few. There is, we believe, a growing uneasiness among Coalition members, and this reflects the growing uneasiness of the country. If the leaders have allowed themselves to be persuaded, that they can ignore it they will be due for a rough awakening when Parliament faces the country.

Though the leaders moved about a little in the recess, we are not sure that they made themselves fully conversant with public opinion. Perhaps they listened too much to those who were ready to tell them what they were , anxious to hear. Had they done otherwise.they would surely realise :that many people who do not wish to see the dangerous Labour experiment tried arc fearing that it will, be .forced upon them, not by Labour's campaigning activity, but by Coalition inactivity. When reference is made to Coalition inactivity it is not suggested that nothing has been done. The feeling is rather that all activity has come from one quar-l ter, and been directed one way. The Coalition has slipped so far from its originally professed purpose of being really national that it has gone far towards becoming a one-sided and even a one-man Government. The energy of the Minister of Finance is admirable, but if it is not guided by consideration of the views of all sections it is likely to lead to sectionalism. Already, we believe, the Coalition, in pursuing sectional aims without due thought of basic principles, has established precedents of which Labour will be quick to take advantage. It is necessary now that the Government should be reconstituted and strengthened, lo represent all view?, and to recover those principles which have been buried under the mass of expediency measures,