GENERAL ELECTION

Evening Star, Issue 22004, 13 April 1935, Page 14

GENERAL ELECTION

GOVERNMENT FORCES ORGANISING REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE AT WORK, [FkOM OCB , COKUKSPONBEKT.] WELLINGTON, April 13. 'When the two leaders of the Coalition, framed tlicir joint statement regarding the future of this political combination they had necessarily to consider important questions associated with their public utterance. It is well known that pressure from supporters in all parts of the dominion was largely responsible for: the matter being finally settled and announced before the Prime Minister’s departure, for the reason that complications were arising in many constituencies owing to the rivalry of candidates likely to appeal to those who would ho expected to oppose the Socialist-Labour .platform. A merging of the Reform and United Parties was hoped for in some quarters, but the Minister of Financb, when accepting Mr 'Forbes’s invitation to form the Coalition in 1931, made a clear statement when inviting Reformers to subordinate personal and party sentiments to the’ national interest, Mr Coates adding: “ Our party will not lose its separate identity, nor sacrifice its traditions.” The Coalition appeal to the electors in October, 1931, differs in an important respect from that recently issued, for the latest statement is a joint one of the two leaders, whereas four years ago they made separate statements simultaneously to their respective parties. Candidates were then selected under the joint Coalition banner, but there are many practical difficulties associated; with the maintenance of two friendly but separate ‘ party organisations, and these have been more effectively overcome on the present occasion'by the leaders making a joint appeal. This is being followed up by complete co-operation jn the practical steps needed for the 1935 General ..Election campaign. A very representative committee, comprising about a dozen members of both branches of the Legislature supporting the Government, has been formed to carry out the preliminaries of the campaign, the most important being selection of candidates who will hear official approval, for which there is already a good deal of competition. This committee will have held its first meeting prior to the departure of the Minister of Finance for England, and tht-ough its agency a good deal of effective work will have been accomplished before the two lenders of tho Government return to New Zealand. Policy statements, however, will bo deferred until the election date is nearer at hand.