NATIONAL UNITY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 3242, 13 December 1930, Page 4

NATIONAL UNITY.

Any hope of fusion between the United and Reform parties has now disappeared, and with the general elections due next year the country will have to pass through the ordeal of another triangular fight ending in one party taking over the administration of the Dominion’s alfairs and being at the mercy of one of the other parties. When it is considered that there is every indication that New Zealand, in common with many other countries, must make provision for many economic changes in the near future, a strong and unafraid Government is a necessity during the period of transition. In dealing with the political situation, the Wellington Post, a paper with Reform leanings, but noted for its fair and impartial criticism, states: ‘lnstead of considering how party differences

might be lessened or removed, tne

politicians are doing their best to magnify those differences and confirm them. Reform members have been addressing meetings on these lines, and in their declarations there is nothing helpful. Only from Mr. Downie Stewart has there come a

helpful and encouraging statement

In the Reform Government Mr. Stewart, as Minister of Finance, was mainly responsible for economy policy. It was his determination that led to a reduction of borrowing. Other members of the party, while nominally supporting that policy, did

little to assist the Finance Minister. They gave far more thought to spending than to saving. Yet those other members of the party now see in the spending of the present Government a great obstacle to fusion.” While a National Government composed of the three parties in the House would be the most desirable, this appears to be impossible owing to the constitution of the Labour Party r , which prohibits any definite alliance with another party, a merger of the other two is quite feasible. Under the present triangular conditions we have the sorry spectacle of party organisations seeking to create capital out of the others’ mistake. In a statement recently, Sir James Gunson, of Auckland, declared that in the best interests of the country “All questions of

past administration should be forgotten and the situation dealt with in a way which would be in the best interests of the country.” Some politicians, instead of striving for some kind of unity, are doing their utmost to widen the breach between the two parties, whose duty it is to cooperate during the time of stress which the Dominion is passing through at the present time. Can it truthfully be said that their actions in this connection will help the Dominion in its troubles or place it once more on the road to prosperity. Sectional demands are becoming more insistent, and it is only a strong Government that can refuse those which are economically unsound. During periods of depression there is an inclination to shift the burden of one section on to another, and it is the duty of any Government to take steps to prevent any such injustices, which would lead to general chaos. The members of the two parties—Reform and United—have now an opportunity of helping the country by rising above party feeling and self-interest and working together for the general good of this Dominion and its people. The full effects of the low prices for our exports have not yet been felt, That will come in a few months, and it can be asked whether we are taking adequate steps to meet the situation in the right spirit. A lead must be given by Parliament in this, but so far nothing has been done, and for this procrastination the responsibility must be apportioned to the present unsatisfactory political situation In the Dominion.