FUSION ISSUE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 July 1925, Page 5

FUSION ISSUE

EXPLANATION DELAYED. LEADER OF OPPOSITION ILL. SIGNIFICANT SIDELIGHT. (By Telegraph—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, July 10. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr T. M. Wilford.), who has returned to his Parliamentary duties, is not fully recovered, and it was owing to this cause that the fusion question was not opened up in the House to-night. Mr Wilford being absent, and the Labour amendment being out of the way, Mr Atmore can move his fusion amendment when he desires if he can secure a seconder. The speakers following the division to-night were dealing with the mail question, and it was a significant sidelight on fusion that the only Liberal speaker, Mr Ransome, made many critical remarks on the Government and drew Ministerial interjections.

DEFINITE ANNOUNCEMENT. EXPECTED TO-DAY. CO-OPERATION POSSIBLE. (By Telegraph.—Special to Star). WELLINGTON, July 10. “A definite announcement on the subject of fusion may be expected to-day,” states the Dominion in an editorial article. “In any case, it seems fairly clear that no immediate and complete fusion of the Reform and Liberal parties is likely to result from the negotiations. Hopes that the two parties would unite have been entertained. by many people throughout the Dominion, and the announcement now anticipated that the negotiations have at least _in measure failed will be received with, corresponding regret. The desirability of an amalgamation must be recognised, even by those who are fully alive to the rather formidable difficulties that stand in the way. Though the parties have not been able to surmount these difficulties, this should not prevent them finding a wide basis of cooperation i n Sealing with the work of the present session. They should be able also to look forward bo co-operating to some extent at the impending, general election in at least a proportion of the constituencies. The two parties should have no difficulty in entering into a mutual arrangement which' will enable them to avoid vote-splitting.” The Dominion suggests that. the Prime Minister would he reluctant to undertake Cabinet reconstruction until the electors give him a. direct mandate, and it is not the least important aspect of the position that the postponement of Cabinet reconstruction until after the general elections will, in itself, tend to leave the way clear for some immediate measure of co-operation be•tween the two parties.