“DOOR IS WIDE OPEN”

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12195, 21 July 1925, Page 5

“DOOR IS WIDE OPEN”

( PRIME MINISTER ON THE FUSION NEGOTIATIONS 2 LIBERALS’ MANY CHANGES REFORMERS FOR NATIONALISM IN ITS BROADEST SENSE "The door is not bnnfted and bolted,” declared the Prime Minister at Palmerston North last night when referring to the fruitless fusion negotiations. He repeated -that the Reform Party stood for "nationalism in its broadest and beat sense.”

(By Telegraph—“ Times” Special Reporter.) PALMERSTON N.„ July 20. “Naturally,” said Sr Coates, “you will want some reference from me to the political negotiations between what was the Liberal Party and the Government Party. You will Tealise that there have been very serious negotiations taking plaoe between the two main political parties, in order to present a more united front to the forces of Socialism. “1 want you to understand that I and the members of the Government Party were perfectly einoere in trying to bring such an amalgamation about, but I could not see my way to agree to one of the conditions laid down by onr Liberal friends, namely, that there should be an immediate reconstruction of the Ministry, presumably on a coalition basis. I am pledged to carry out lie programme laid down by my predecessor, the late Mr Massey. That was the statement I made when I became Prime Minister, but it is my earnest flesire. when that is completed, to go to the country asking all who believe in a thoroughly businesslike and national party to come in behindi me with their Support. WHY THE CHANGE? “It seems remarkable to me that since I intimated that I could not agree to a reconstruction of the Ministry our erstwhile Liberal friends declared that the door was hanged and barred. It is only fair to ask the reason for this sudden change of attitude. “Uy inference he thought the people could arrive at the answer as well as he ciould. When the loaves of office were not available at once for distribution that seemed to form quite sufficient reason to say the door was banged, bolted, and barred, and, it proved that the desire to amalgamate on a real national basis was only skin-deep, and that the motives underlying iW negotiations were not wholly, of a disinterested character.” "LIBERAL” A FINE NAME “Now our ex-Liberal friends have dumped overboard their claims to he known as Liberals. It seems to me almost a tragedy that such a thing should happen. I look upon ‘Liberal’ as a very fine name. We use ‘liberal so often ourselves. We like to feel in our

everyday lives we are liberal. I find to-day New Zealand is no longer represented in Parliament by Liberal members. I wonder what the hosts of sincere Liberals in the country w'd think about the jettisoning of the name ‘Liberal’ ? What are the stalwarts going to do—those who hark back co the days of Grey, Ballance, Seddon, and WardP All I can say to them is that if they desire to bo Liberal still the door is wide open to them, sun’ we. want their support. It is well knowu that the policy of the Government m the twelve years of its office has been Liberal. “The door is not banged and bailed —far from it.. It is wide open for all those who believe in equal oppo-tu.-vty for all to get behind us and help us to govern the country as we all '*aut it governed. We want tbeir goodwill and their support in a policy that will have for its ideal prudent and economic administration, affording an opportunity to the individual who wants to make good. NOT THE FIRST CHANGE “It is interesting to remember that this is not the first change of name that has been indulged in by Mr Wilford in connection with the party he leads. Some few years ago you will remember the name was made the National Progressive Liberal Party, and 1 think a fusion took place at that time, but it did not last long, and hack they went to the Liberal-Labour Party again. Are Mr Wilford and his party groping for support? Are they thinking that by the change of name from Liberal-Labour to National they are going to help themselves P I think it is too late. There is no room, nor is there need for two national parties in New Zealand, and the Loader of the Opposition has been already anticipated by my own declaration of faith, and that is nationalism in its broadest and best sense. “SO MANY ALIASES" , “The latest move on the part of Mr Wilford. seems tc me to savour of a lightning-change artist. vA party that hears so many aliases cannot ultimately hope for ■ the support of thinking people. I ask you to give the situation your careful consideration, and if you think I am the man to lead the party and the Government of New Zealand all I ask is that you give me a fair hearing, and an opportunity—and nothing more.”