FUSION.

Evening Star, Issue 22783, 4 May 1931, Page 14

FUSION.

10 TRK EDITOR. Sir, —Fusion! There is magic in that word. It is the cure-all of our political weakness, and a restorative of our economic disease 1 In some such way the Press reasons, or pretends to reason the matter out. It is fortunate for thehiselves that the mass of the people possess a finer degree of common sense than the Press gives them credit for. That United manoeuvres were moving towards fusion has been most apparent since the illness of the late Prime Minister deprived us of our only statesman. If it were not that there are such grave issues at stake the antics of the United Party would provide a high degree of rib-tickling hilarity. Mr Forbes cariie into command of a minority party owing its office to the vote of the Labour Party, with which it had bargained in those days when it was lovingly called by a section of the Press the “ Up-and-doing.” When, after Mr Forbes took command, the Bill was presented by Labour in terms of policy he preferred to cast himself upon tho grudging support of Reform rather than pay the price upon tho 1928 “ no-confidence vote,” and tho subsequent support accepted from Mr Holland. And having leaned upon and accepted tho dictation of Reform during an entire session, Mr Forbes now desires to merge the identity of his party with that of Reform. From his own point of view this is not a surprising desire. Tho day of judgment is approaching, and lie can have but little doubt as to the verdict so far as it will concern his party. With less than onethird of tho House behind him ho offers to stand aside and permit the' new party to make its Cabinet choice. That is the gesture which the Press describes as magnanimous. But both the Press and Mr Forbes fail to take into consideration the paramount authority of tho electors in a situation such as tho present. The democratic way to decide whether or not there shall be a fusion of parties is to go to tho country and obtain a mandate to proceed with tho fusing. To proceed without being satisfied that they have the electors behind them is to Act outside tho right of a political party. If Mr Forbes feels he is unable to carry out his responsibilities hts duty is to advise a dissolution with an appeal to tho country. If the election reulted in a return of three minority parties again then the time would be ripe to consider a fusion as an alternative to a fresh appeal. But it is more than probable that when an election is held the electors, who have listened to solos by Reform and United, will be in no humour to entertain a duet. Tho probability is that tho Labour Party will be returned with a sufficient majority to make unnecessary any thought of a makeshift move like fusion. And it is tho dark shadows of the election falling upon tho United Party that stir the desire for fusion. The “Up and doing party " prefers to grasp the chanco of fusion rather than go down with tho Hag flying.—l am, etc., Alpha. May 4.