LIBERALS AND LABOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19958, 29 May 1928, Page 11

LIBERALS AND LABOUR.

SUGGESTION FOR FUSION. NOTHING DEFINITE DONE YET. j JOINT CONFERENCE POSSIBLE. r Not much importance is attached by Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., deputy-leader * of the Parliamentary Labour Party, to the recent suggestion of a fusion of the Liberal and Labour Parties in view of the coming election. Publicity was first given to the idea in a speech by Mr. W. j J. Jordan, M.P., and it has been taken c up by Mr. F. S. Morton, who was secre- <• tary to the Auckland branch of the Liberal Party at the time of the last elec- a tion, and other Liberals. j Mr. Morton says nothing very definite has been done yet, but the suggestion of e a union of forces had been well received jby Labour representatives. A joint con- ( ference of the two parties might be held c in Wellington during the coming session, I Another suggestion was a public meeting in the Town Hall, to be addressed by t representative speakers of both parties. a Mr. Savage pointed out the Labour can- 1 didat«s were already being selected. He i was not so sure the two parties did desire t anything in the nature of a fusion. Mem- J bers of the Liberal Party had gone off in £ all directions to other parties, and who * could speak in the name of them all he a did not know. The annual conference of 1 the Labour Party was just over, and this ' matter had not been discussed at it. Individuals had certainly talked about it, but only the organisation could do any- * thing worth while. Another Dominion 1 conference of the party would be required * before anything very definite could be done. When approached on the subject Mr. Jordan repeated what he had said a month ago, that an understanding should be arrived at by those in real opposition to the Government. The spirit of true Liberalism still existed, and was working with the Labour Party. The Labour ( Party had consistently supported Liberals j when they opposed Reform, and he hoped j the Liberals would be equally determined. "Wo have the spirit of true Liberalism ( in the Labour Party, and we ask the t Liberals to be true to themselves," said j Mr. Jordan. .