PRIME MINISTER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 21 July 1925, Page 4

PRIME MINISTER

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION AT PALMERSTON NORTH

REFERENCES TO MR WILFORD’S MOVE

'United Press Association.)

PALAIERSTON N., This Day

On his first visit to Palmerston North as Prime Minister, Mr Coates yesterday received ail enthusiastic welcome. The civic reception accorded him was most cordial. He was also greeted by returned soldiers.

Air Coates spoke at the Reform League rally in the evening when he made reference to the recent fusion negotiations. He said lie had been sincere in his endeavours to bring the amalgamation of parties into being but could not agree to one condition laid down by the Liberals, that there should be immediate reconstruction of tlie ministry. He was pledged for the remainder 1 f tlie session to carry out the programme laid down by Air Massey. lie aoked all who believed in a sound, business-like and national policy to come behind him with theiivsupport. It seemed remarkable to him that- as ®oon as lie intimated Ids inability to agreed to tlie reconstruction of the Cabinet tlie Liberals should declare that ilic door had been ‘‘banged, bolted and barred.” Why this sudden change of attitude? His hearers could arrive at tlie arnwer just as well as lie. It was almost a calamity that such a tiling had happened. The name

‘ L'beral” was a fine one hut. what wo mil tlie Liberals outside Parliament think of jettisoning this title? This was not the first change.in the name that the Liberal Party had effected. Some few years ago there had been a sudden change of name and he believed that a fusion took place, hut it did not last long, and back went the Liberals to the old banner. Were Air Wilford and his party now groping again for support and was the name “national” going to help them? He thought not as it was a bit late. There was no room for two national parties in New Zealand. This latest move of Air Wilford’a savoured of a lightning change artist. A party that had so many aliases to preserve its exis'ence could not expect to receive the support of tlie people.

CHANGE OF NAAIE ENDORSED

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Tlie Auckland branch of tlie LiberalLabour Federation, adopted a resolution recognising t-nat tlie change of name does not imply a change of principles, and having confidence in the Parliamentary executive, unanimously endorsed their action in changing the name, and pledge themselves to support the National Party; also desiring to expres lively appreciation of the com. mon-sense behind the Leader’s proposal for a National Party.

AIEETING AT THE HUTT

WELLINGTON, Tin’s Day

Air Wilford and several members of his Party addressed a meeting at the Hutt last night, when the following resolutions were agreed to:—“That this meeting of the Hutt branch of the Lib-eral-Labour Federation wishes to record its entire approval of the decision of members of the Party in Parliament to create a new Party to be known as tlie National Party, with national aims and policy; that this meeting of the Hutt branch of the Liberal-Labour Party regrets the Prime Minister should have refused the generous and unselfish offer of the Liberal-Ha hour Party to join with his Party in the formation of a National Party, so that a strong and stable Government could be formed.”

STATEMENT BY MR WILFORD WELLINGTON, This Day. Mr Wilford, Leader of the National Party, addressing the executive of the Hutt branch of ttie National Party last night, said the National Party should break up any partnership between money and power. Under the National Party all could work for the whole of the people, not some of the people. He denied that- the Liberals’ bargaining for office in any new National Government- formed by Mr Coates was the obstacle to fusion Mr Coates had absolutely a free hand to select the Ministers he pleased. The Prime Minister, said Mr Wilford to-day, was on very dangerous ground at Palmerston when he spoke of “light-, ning change artists.” We do not forget his lightning change in 1912, when early in that- year he voted confidence in . the. Reform Party against the Liberals, and the public will always re-

member the liglitning changes and side stepping in the fusion negotiations. He stated in these negotiations that his party was in favour of fusion, “butwhen 1 said this should take place immediately he made a- lightning change and said lie must carry out Mr Massey’s programme' first, and then would consider the date. Again, when I pointed out that lie had his Ministers’ resignations in his pocket for reconstruction he changed his attitude in a moment and said that reconstruction was not practicable, though how you could Have-' fusion without reconstruction was a mystery to me. Finally, when I told him we would leave the question of ■ portfolios and reconstruction entirely to him he made a lightning change and declined absolutely to reconstruct. Surely it is dangerous for Mr Coates to talk of lightning change artists. He lias certainly been as plasticine in the nands of a few of his party.” wn—llfl—p— ■■■■BMWM——