COALITION GOVERNMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21295, 23 September 1932, Page 11

COALITION GOVERNMENT

FORMATION A YEAR AGO The first anniversary of the formation of the Coalition Government by the Reform and United Parties fell yesterday. The United Government had existed for many months with the assistance of the Labour Party, but this support was withdrawn in March of last year, and for a period the Government carried on with the help of the Reform Party. A proposal to the Reform Party to join with the United Party in forming a National Government was made by the Prime Minister, the Rt, Hon. G. W. Forbes, but this was not accepted. For a time an effort was made to solve tjie financial problems of the country by an inter-party committee, on which the three main parties were represented, but the desired results could not he obtained by that means, and on September 15 the committee ceased to function. Negotiations between the two main parties were opened and on September 18 it was announced that Reform and United had agreed to form a Coalition. A Ministry of ten members giving equal representation to both parties was agreed upon, and on September 22 the Ministry was sworn in and met the House. The general election in December of last year returned the Coalition Government to power.