FUSION NEGOTIATIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 July 1925, Page 5

FUSION NEGOTIATIONS.

LIBERALS’ CHANGE GF NAME. PRIAIE AIINISTERS’ COMMENTS. (BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.,) ■ PALMERSTON N„ July 21. The recent political fusion negotiations were referred td by the Premier (Hon. J. G. Coates) at a function here to-night. Air Coate s said he had been sincere in his endeavours to bring such an amalgamation, into. being, but .be could not agree to one condition laid down by the Libera's, namely, that there should be an immediate reconstruction of the Ministry. Air Coates said he was pledged for the remainder 'of the session to carry out the programme laid down by Mr Massey, and he asked : all who believed in a sound, businesslike and national •olicy to come behind him with their '•iijport. It seemed remarkable to him that as soon a s he intimated his inability to agree to reconstruction-of the Cabinet that the Liberals should have declared that the door had been., banged, bolted and barred. Why this sudden ohange of attitude ? His hearers cou'd arrive at the answer just as .well as he. It was almost a calamity that such a thing had happened. The name Liberal was a fine one ; but

what’ would Liberals outside Parliament think of jettisoning this title? This a Q not the first change in name that the Libera 1 Party had effected. Some -few years ago there had been a sudden change of name, and he believed a fusion took place, but it did not last long, and back went the- Liberals to their old banner. Were Mr Wilford and his party now groping again for support, and was the name .“National” going to help them? He thought not, as it wa s a bit late, for there was ho room for two national parties in New Zealand. This latest move of Mr Wilford’ s savoured of a lightning change artist. A party that had so many a’iases to conserve it s existence .-could not expect to receive the support of the people.