TOWARDS FUSION

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2713, 22 June 1925, Page 7

TOWARDS FUSION

Joint Report Presented to Leaders FAVOURABLE PRELIMINARY POINT REACHED. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 20. The first stage in the proposed amalgamation of the Reform and LiberalLabour Parties has been completed. This morning the conference of delegates from each side concluded the business for which they were appointed and on which they haVe been engaged since Thursday afternoon. Tho joint report Is now in the hands of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The delegates sat until 9.15 last night and it was agreed that Mr. J. A. Young, the leader on" the Reform side, should draft a report. Mr. Young did not complete his labours until 3 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, but he stated that the delegates had conferred with fha greatest earnestness and that the proceedings had been marked by the ut< most goodwill and harmony throughout. ’ It is believed that the conference leached a favourable point towards the object in view, but, of course, it will now be for the caucuses of both partfbs to decide what the next step shall be. The Leader of the Liberal-Labour Party (Mr. Wilford) declined to say anything this afternoon, beyond that he had received the report, but the' Prime Minister stated that the Reform Party’s caucus would not take place until after the opening of Parliament next Thursday. Mr. Coates said that it would be impossible to hold tho caucus of members of the Reform Party before Thursday, because some of them would not arrive in Wellington before that day. In reply to a question, the Prime Minister said he would not Submit a report to the caucus, as that would be the duty of the delegates who had conferred with, the Liberal members. Mr. Young returned to Hamilton this afternoon and Mr. O. J. Hawken left for Taranaki this morning. Mr. T. D. Burnett, who was one of the Reform delegates, left for the South last night and Mr. G. W Forbes, who was Leader for the LiberalLabour Party at the conference, which proceeds to Christchurch to-night.