POLITICAL PARTIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 10

POLITICAL PARTIES.

Hostility toward the Labour Party, indifference toward other party distinctions, are professed by the New Zealand Political Association. Its purpose is to get strong, enthusiastic men into Parliament, men who will work for the welfare of New Zealand, men who will bring about a fusion of the Reform and United Parties so that they may fight their "political opponents, the Labour Party." There is a curious familiarity in these professions. The original manifesto of the United Party, issued in August, 1927, proclaimed that its chief purpose was to prevent the Socialistic Labour Party gaining control of the Government, and its method was "to place in Parliament candidates of unimpeachable national loyalty, proved business ability and keen concern for the country's welfare." Three months later, Mr. Forbes announced that the National Party, of which lie was then leader, had agreed to bocome the nucleus of the organisation which lie said would bo the means of "co-operation of all the political parties outside the Labour Party opposed to the (Reform) Government." And a year after the genesis of the United Party, Mr. Forbes repulsed a suggestion by the leader of (he Reform Party that they should combine to present a solid front against tho Labour Party. After the general election, the United Party had to make a choice —on the one hand was the Reform Party, opposition to which was tho reason for its creation ; on tho other hand, the Labour Party, which it had declared ought not to control the Government. Again, Mr. Coates made an offer of friendly support. Once more, his advances were repulsed by the United Party, and for two years it has worked in the closest possible association with the Labour Party, short of a formal coalition. Upon what grounds does the Wellington association propose to alter the existing arrangement; what evidence is there that the United Party dislikes the present association? A few days ago, in a speech at Palmerston North, Mr. Ransom boasted that the party's success at two by-elections was significant—success against the Reform Party, with its Labour allies playing the part of benevolent neutrality. He had nothing to say in criticism of Labour policy, but did not omit reference to what "Reform had failed to do." Sane and sober government was wrecked, sound financial methods were abandoned, as the direct result of the creation of the United Party and its voluntary submission to the control of the Labour Party. What reason have the advocates of fusion to assume that the alliance can be broken or that the United Party, with all its patent weaknesses, would be an element of strength in either a Reform coalition Government or in an entirely new Government formed by a fortuitous assemblage of men without. community of purpose or definite conception of political principles and policy?