THE UNITED PARTY'S RECORD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20924, 14 July 1931, Page 12

THE UNITED PARTY'S RECORD.

Sir, —Tho published list of business men in Auckland who signed the latest fusion proposal must be as astonishing to many other Reform supporters as it is to me. I am at a loss to understand why anyone, business man or not, can wish to continue either tho United Party as a whole, or any trace of it as part of any organisation in the Government of the Dominion. Having seen tho direct negation of practically every item of the 1928 manifesto, plus the astonishing ineptitude of the United administration, and tho extent to which it allowed itself to be hagridden by the Labour Party, one wonders whether any of these business men would countenance such action on the part of any of their own employees. Why should the State bo saddled with inefficiency any more than private business ? Tho reasons for the inability of Reform supporters to understand this desire to save any remnant of the United Party from the debacle that undoubtedly awaits it at the next general election, are found in the history of the administration of the Dominion's affairs during tho past 2i years. One or two items:—(l) £70,000,000 to be raised without one penny of additional taxation; result, over £2,250,000 increase in tax-revenue in United's .„ first year. (2) Revision of present system of taxation, and reduction of maximum amount of income-tax; result, rittes increased 10 per contain 1930. (3) Tariff amended to reduce cost of living; result, a double primage duty for a-period of a year. (4) Money to bo raised at per cent, and loaned to settlers and workers at 4| per cent. Result, no comment necessary. (5) Land settlement and railway construction as a permanent solution of unemployment; result, tho only possible comment would be unpunishable. (6) The territorial system of defence to be maintained; result, a complete submission to dictation from tho Labour Party. Ono could continue indefinitely and deal with tho 1928 election pledges and manifesto in detail, hut theso items will perhaps servo to remind the signa tories to the fusion proposals that the memories of Reform supporters and of the country generally aro not so short that they can be led astray by "red herrings across the trail." There is only ono competent authority to decide the matter of fusion, and that is the electorate as a

whole. R. T. Mahri'Axx. Oratia^