FUSION PROPOSALS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 189, 15 July 1925, Page 6

FUSION PROPOSALS

WHY NEGOTIATIONS FAILED. STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT. PRIME MINISTER EXPLAINS. CARRYING OUT MR MASSEY'S POLICY FIRST. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 14. The Prime Minister, in the House of Representatives this afternoon, made a statement on the proposed fusion of the Liberal and Reform political parties. He said: “With your permission, sir, I would like to make a short statement for the information of honourable members regarding the proposals which recently have been under consideration, having for their objective the amalgamation of the two main political partips in the House. May I commence by saying that the matter was the subject of a discussion at a meeting of members of the Reform Party held in Wellington on 27th May, mainly for the purpose of selecting a new leader. It was then decided that the Government Party were willing to enter upon a conference which had been suggested by a representative of the Liberal Party, and that arrangements to bring about such a conference be left in the hands of the new leader. FORMER STATEMENT. “T propose to place on record for the information of the House and country the correspondence that has taken place between the leader of the Opposition and myself, but before doing so 1 desire to refer briefly, by waxed recapitulation, to an extract from a public statement issued by me to the people when assuming the position of Prime 'Minister.

“In that statement I said:—‘It is urged that as there are in fact no important matters of policy at issue between the members of the Government Party and those who sit on the Opposition. henehes the political hatchet should he buried, and thus make the path dear for a friendly merger. Speaking tor the Government, let me say that we shall welcome any proposals that may be submitted,’ and I indicated further, that any such proposals would receive earnest consideration.” This statement was followed by the reading of the early correspondence which passed between himself and Mr tVi!ford on the. subject, most of which has already been published. This correspondence showed that, as a result of the letters passing between the leaders, a conference of four delegates from both sides was set up, the first meeting of such conference being held on the 18th May. R EGON STR UCT lON Q UESTION. The deliberations of these conferences', of which there have been five in all, were conveyed to the respective parties, and on the 3rd July Mr Wilford wrote to Mr Coates, drawing his attention to the fact that, as a result of information given to it by its delegates, the Reform Party had passed a resolution “that the question of reconstruction he left in the hands of the Prime Minister,” and objecting that there was nothing in the resolution to show how or when reconstruction would take place- This, Mr Wilford pointed out, was most unsatisfactory, and his party and he requested an answer to the question : “Are we to understand that if fusion is accomplished the new party will be immediately called into being and a. new Ministry constituted by you from the new party under your constitutional right as Leader of the new party?”

To 1 his .Mr Coates replied on the 3rd July to the effect that lie hoped to send an answer in a day or two. On the 7th he wrote stating that reconstruction was impracticable at present as he had already given pledges to carry out the late Mr Massey’s policy, and it seemed to him that it was the first duty of tile Government to carry out those pledges. When this work was completed, with, he hoped, the help of the Liberal Party, they would then go to the electorates and ask them to return a strong, stable Government in order to carry out a national and progressive policy, which would conserve both the peace and prosperity of the Dominion. LIBERALS SIR PR IS ED.

On tho 9th Mr Wilford replied, stating that Mr Coates’ letter came as a surprise to his party. He was satisfied that the reply had banged, bolted and barred the door to the creation of a national party, which he believed the country required. Mr Coates, in his reply of the same date, said he regretted the interpretation which the Liberals had put upon his letter of the 7th. He had not banged, bolted and barred the door. He was l willing to continue the negotiations, but, as he had already pointed out, for the remainder of the present session he was pledged to complete the programme of his predecessor, and not the programme of the new party. Thereafter he would submit himself to the electors, asking all those who believed in a strong, stable Government, with a national progressive policy, to stand in behind him and to afford him their united support. To-day Mr Wilford replied to this that he could only reiterate what lie said in his letter of the 9th inst., namely, “that we are satisfied by your reply that you have banged, bolted and barred the door to the creation of a national party which wc believe the country required. This view was endorsed by my caucus at its meeting this morning.” Continuing reading his statement, Mr Coates said: “That, sir, completes the letters which have been exchanged between the Leader of tho Opposition an<J, myself. May I say that the correspondence makes it clear that the Government Party is in favour of amalgamation in order that a more effective and united front may bo presented by those opposed to tho spread of extreme Socialistic doctrines in tho Dominion, which form the main portion of tlie platform of the political Labour Party in Parliament to-day. ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS. “We hold, however, that such amalgamation must be subject to the two following essential conditions: (a) that the question of Ministerial reconstruction must be left in the hands of the Prime Minister and. (b) that the question of the selection of candidates in the several electorates must be mutually agreed upon. Now, in regard to the first of those conditions, it will be at once admitted that the question of the selection of members to hold Ministerial positions is one entirely within the prerogative of the Prime Minister. Any other condition would be naturally inconsistent with the dignity and self-respect attaching to the office. In my letter of July 7tli I further quoted from my address to the people on May 30th, when assuming

office, to the effect that the policy of my predecessor on which a large number of members were elected to support was in general to be maintained and that it was not the intention of the Government to propose any radical deviation from that policy during the remainder of the present Parliament. “1 may further point out that 1 as Prime Minister have no mandate of the electors of the Dominion, hut hold the position as the result of selection by the Government Party in the House consequent upon the death of Air Alassey. Therefore, I feel, and my colleagues share this view, that in the circumstances the only right and honourable course to follow is that which has been already laid down publicly by me. THE DOOR STILL OPEN. “I repeat that there is no justification for saying that the door has been ‘banged, bolted and barred.’ On the contrary, the door is open for all those who believe in a strong and stable Government with a progressively national policy to give helpful support in passing through the House such legislation as is necessary in the interests of the ■ country, and when that work is completed we can then go to the country, after dissolution of the present Parliament, as a constitutional or national party, with a policy which will be announced at the proper time, and whieli will conserve both the peace and prosperity of the Dominion. “In regard to reconstruction, I have already stated mv attitude and that of the Government, and I do not feel that I can vacillate therefrom for the purpose of meeting certain political exigencies, however desirable in the opinion of certain honourable members these may be.” AIR WILFORD’S REAIARKS.

Mr Wilford, Lender of the Liberal Party, said that it was necessary to go hack to the 14th May when, after Mr Maspsy's funeral, a Liberal caucus decided that a national party should be formed if it was possible to secure the co-operation of the Reform and Liberal parties. On the 16th May a personal friend of his and Mr Coates (whom he would call “Air X”) was asked by Air Wilford to see Air Coates and ascertain his views on the question of amalgamation. “Air X” found that Air Coates, who was not then Prime ATinistev, was not averse to a conference on fusion, but no official intimation was given to the Liberal Party. On the 27th May the Reform caucus elected Air Coates Prime Alinistef. He (Air Wilford) wrote asking Air Coates what was being done in the matter of fusion, and then ascertained that .the Reform caucus had authorised conversations. Correspondence on the subject between Air Coates and tin l Liberal executive had not reached their destinations and had led to misunderstanding and delay, NO INTRIGUING BEHIND AIR WILFORD S BACK. Air Wilford said lie wished to clear the members of his party from the charges made in • the press that they had been intriguing with the Prime Afinister behind his (Air Wiiford’s) hack. Nothing of the kind had occurred and he eulogised his followers for their lovaltv to him.

After the respective caucus discussions, representatives of the Reform Party came to the Liberals with throe resolutions as follow: (I) 'flint the matter of Cabinet portfolios must be left in the bands of the Prime .Minister; (2) that the Reform Party could not accept preferential voting; (3) that the difficulties of the situation in the electorates bo put before the Liberal Party. and that the latter be asked to make suggestions. Mr Wilford said the Liberals were agreed oii the first question: As to the . second, the Liberals wanted proportional representation, but were prepared to take preferential voting if

they could not get the former. The third question was involved in the second.

FURTHER RESOLUTIONS. After the Reform caucus had been informed of these conclusions, its representatives came back with three further resolutions: (1) That the Reform meeting was in favour of fusion; (2) that the question of reconstruction of the Cabinet be left entirely, in the hands of the Prime Minister; (3) that the problems with reference to the candidates in the field lie settled by the parties in the electorates/ Mr Wilford quoted from his letters to the Prime Minister, dealing with these resolutions and the conferences, and expressed regret at the dissipation of the prospect of forming a National Party and Government. He and all members of bis party \yere convinced that a new party must he formed with a new national policy to place before the country. He would say now, from bis seat in the House, that what lie and all his party had agreed to during the conferences they were still prepared to advocate and act upon. They were ready to let the Prime Minister select the members of bis Cabinet. The .Liberals were prepared to abandon any claim to a portfolio in a National Government, that should go to the country with a national policy, but. they insisted that there must he reconstruction. No one was more disappointed than lie that the negotiations toy this amalgamation, which was so desirable in tiie interests of the country, had failed.

The discussion then dropped, hut in the evening Hon. A. I). McLeod referred to the fusion negotiations and explained that, so far as he was concerned. he felt that he had a duty to his supporters. It was a matter for the electors to decide, not for members to depart from party definitions ill order to secure a new disposition of the loaves and fishes.