FUSION ISSUE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 22 June 1925, Page 5

FUSION ISSUE

THE CONFERENCE. FIRST STAGE COMPLETED. GOOD FEELING PREY AILED.

(by TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, June 20. The first stage- in the amalgamation of the Reform and Liberal-Labour parties has been cc-ni:p*eced. This morning the conference of delegates from each side concluded the business for which they were appointed and on which they had been engaged since " Thursday afternoon. Their report is now in the bands of the Prime Minister and the Leader off the- Opposition. The delegates sat until 9.16 o'clock last night, and. it was agreed that Mr. J. A. Young, leader on the ' Reform side, should draft a lepdit. Mr. Yioung did not complete lniis labours until 2 o’clock this morning. . This . morning .the delegates met again to consider the report as drafted, and finally it was approved, each party having a copy* for presentation to its leader. Mr.. Young subsequently informed a Post reporter that the conference had resolved that no details “of what had taken place should be communicated to the press, hut lie seated that; the delegates had conferred with, the greatest earnestness and that- the proceedings had been marked by the utmost goodwill and harmony throughout. It as believed that- the conference reached a- favourable point towards' the object in view, but. of course it will now be for the caucuses of both parties to decide what the next step shall he. The Leader of the Lib era 1 -Labour Party (Mr. T..M. Wiilford) declined to say anything this afternoon,, beyond that he. had received the. report,- hut the Prime. Minister .stated that, the Reform Parity’s oaueiif? would .not take place until after the opening of Parliament next Thursday. Sir.' Coates said it would be 'impossible, to hold a caucus of the members,- of the Reform Party before Thursday because some- of - them would not arrive in Wellington before that day. Tn replv' to a question, the Prime Minister said he would not' submit- the report to- the caucus, as that would be the dutv of the delegates who had conferred with the liberal members.