PARTY FUSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18898, 26 June 1923, Page 8

PARTY FUSION.

REFORM MEMBER’S APPEAL COALITION NEEDED BY THE COUNTRY. (From Och Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 25. An earnest appeal for party fusion was macle_ by Mr Harris, the Hefo nn member for Waitemuta, in the House of Representatives to-night during the course of his speech on the no-confidence debate. “Overtures were made for a fusion of the Liberal and Reform Parties at the February session,” said Mr Harris, “and I hope it. will be still possible. I believe it is possible. The two parties have much m common, and have tew differences. I am hoping they will come together and form a great national party for (he benefit of New Zealand. I believe that the barriers that are keeping the parties apart are artificial harriers. There is no real line of demarcation. There is a line between them and Labour —(Labour members: ‘‘Hear, hear”)—but some of my best friends are on tbo Liberal side, and I am not giving away a confidence when I say that members of that party said they hoped some form of fusion would take place. I think it was only owing to party expediency and personal considerations that the fusion was not brought about.” Mr Monteith (Labour); Keep going. You'll get the lot. —(Laughter.)

Mr Harris: We were told that overtures were made and that the conditions were distasteful and humiliating to the Leader of the Government. If that is so, the representations do not represent the feeling of the country. I cannot see how anything humiliating or distasteful could result. There had been some misrepresentation somewhere, continued Mr Harris. If the two parties had approached one another in the proper spirit the fusion would have been brought about. The country was not satisfied that the. negotiations had broken down. There had never been a clear statement as to why they broke down. “I am prepared to meet the members of the other side,” he said, “to seek some way of coming together. When I came here about 12 years ago I came as a strong party man, thinking that the country depended on the party in power. The longer I stay the mere I am convinced that party government is a sham. We hear members getting up sometimes and wilfully misrepresenting the other side, making statements that they know are wrong. The Sneaker: Order.

Mr Harris; Statements are made by hon. members that they would not stoop to make in their ordinary civil calling, but they make use of them because thov think it is parly fighting. Party tactics make thorn hit below the bolt. Let us hit hard, but try to play fair. Mr M'llvride (Labour): If they had opother conference would you act as chairman?

Mr Harris: I am quite convinced that the people arc not satisfied with tho failure of the overtures. They need a coalition. If some means could be found to bring the two parties together the three-party system could be done away with. I have no quarrel with my Labour friends, but as things are we are playing right into the hands of extreme Labour. I believe that it is the duty of every right-thinking man to try by constitutional means to overcome tho possibility of playing into the hands of a party which will bring A Labour Member; Red revolution?

Mr Harris: I hope that, it may be possible for members of the Reform and Liberal Parties to rise to higher ideals and establish a coalition. A Labour Member: On broad national lines?