STANDING TOGETHER

Evening Star, Issue 21994, 2 April 1935, Page 3

STANDING TOGETHER

STATEMENT BY COALITION LEADERS NO HOUR FOR SECTIONAL SPLITS (Per Unites Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 1. The following statement was issued to-night by tho Prime Minister (the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes) and the Minister of Finance (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) ; Before the departure of tho Prime Minister we have felt it necessary to consider the future of the Coalition and to give a clear indication of our intentions. In our opinion it is necessary that all those interested in the good government of this country should continue to work in the closest co-operation. It is eminently desirable that in these difficult days party politics should be restrained in order that our full energies may be devoted to the elimination of distress amongst all sections of our people and the promotion of continued economic recovery, for there are those who persist in capitalising the distress of some of our fellow_ citizens_ in support of their own political objectives. For nearly four years we have cooperated loyally, and we think effectively, and we are encouraged ay the support received throughout the country to believe that a continuation of this co-operation is essential for the dominion’s welfare if the measures to restore confidence and stability that have been initiated are to fie carried through to a successful conclusion. The work already accomplished has been considerable, and establishes a policy the maintenance of which ‘.s essential to national prosperity. We are ■ firmly convinced that the future calls for continued effort in the interests of the dominion. It is easy to accept any plausible excuse for taking no action at all, but those who are in touch with all phases of our national life know that we are living in changing times, and we cannot stand still even if we would. We nave been obliged to bring into being drastic measures to maintain our primary production upon which the whole prosperity of the dominion is based. This and the necessity for relieving unemployment admittedly involved heavy burdens «n many sections of the community, and the adoption of pleasures of internal adjustment which under any conditions except those of national emergency could never liaie been contemplated. As a Government we are convinced that the policy we have carried into effect during the past few years has been of value to the community. We recognise that much remains to be done, and that as conditions alter overseas it may bo necessary to make further internal adjustments. We believe, however, that wo have now established the main lines of policy and that our plan of reconstruction Las sufficient strength and elasticity to absorb such shocks as may be experienced from time to time from cioseas. The first effects of readjustment are invariably unpleasant and disturbing, but this phase is now nearing completion in New Zealand. The beneficial effects of the measures taken are now being felt, and it is important that they shall not be negatived by policies inconsistent with our national needs or violently reversed by measures superficially attractive but economically unsound. We feel that any material change in policy will create a sense of insecurity and perhaps chaos, and that our people will best he served by the continued co-operation of the Coalition group as a National Government. These are not the times for a splitting up of most people into factions. On behalf of the members of the Coalition in Parliament we strongly urge our supporters the country, and indeed all public-spirited citizens, to avoid being misled by those interested in promoting sectional differences. Our strength in the future as in the past will depend On our continuing to represent fairly the interests of all sections of the community.

LEADERSHIP HOT YET QUESTIONED

[From Oor Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, April 1. Though expected much earlier, it was only an hour before the Prime Minister left Parliament Building on his long journey that the statement indicating to members and the country the future party arrangement was handed to the Press. Whether this delay was clue to tho general assumption that the matter could be taken for granted, or to any difficulty in coming to a definite arrangement has been a question discussed in the lobbies, especially as during the earlier part of the day Mr Coates received a deputation of his supporters in the House who wished to raise the matter of party alignment. They were concerned that the identity of the Reform Party should not be lost, the assumption being that when conditions become normal the old party alignments should he resumed. The statement itself, while clear that much remains to be done by joint effort, contains references in the same paragraph, to a National Government and the Coalition group in that Government, thus reviving doubts regarding the future leadership. Inquiries, however, completely support the assumption that the leadership issue is not a live one, Mr Coates being quite content to maintain the present relations with the United group, despite their numerical inferiority. Whether he would be content with this position in the next Parliament is a matter on which there is very lively speculation in the lobbies.