MR WILFORD REPLIES

Evening Star, Issue 18998, 21 July 1925, Page 8

MR WILFORD REPLIES

PREMIER AS PLASTICINE SIDE-STEPPING Ifl FUSION NEGOTIATIONS [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 21. “The Prime Minister,” said MrAVilford to-day, “was on very dangerous ground at Palmerston North when he spoke of ‘ lightning change artists/ We do not forget his lightning change in 101 when early that year lie voted confidence in Deform against the Liberals: ami the public will always remember his lightning changes and side-stepping in the fusion negotiations. He stated m these negotiations that his party was in favor of fusion, but when I said it should take placd immediately he made a lightning change, ho said ho must carry out Mr Massey’s programme first, and then would consider the date. Again, when I pointed out that he had the Ministers’ resignations in his pocket for reconstruction, he changed his attitude in a moment, and said that reconstruction was not practicable; though how you could have fusion without reconstruction was a mystery to me And, finally, when I told him wc would leave the question of portfolios on reconstruction entirely to him, he made a lightning change and declined absolutely to reconstruct. Surely it is dangerous for Mr Coates to talk of lightning change artists. He has certainly been plasticine in the bands or a few of his party.