THE COMING ELECTION

Opunake Times, 15 January 1935, Page 2

THE COMING ELECTION

COALITION PROSPECTS PRIME MINISTER'S VIEW The Coalition between the Reform and United Parties, from which (be present Government was formed, is still regarded by (he Prime Minister, Mr G. VT. Forbes, as a political unit, and from what he said in an interview in Christchurch last week he expects that at the next election the Coalition will go to the country in its present form. Mr Forbes said it was unthinkable in such a time of serious national difficulty that the party issue should be raised. The responsible elements in (he community, he sard, must still work together “to keep the country on (he rails.” Mr Forbes was asked to comment on a reported statement by (lie Minister of Lands, Mr Ransom, that at (he next election he would seek re-election for Pahiatua in the interests of (he Coalition. Mr Forbes said that neither he, himself, nor any member of his Government would dream of party interests* when the Dominion was still facing such serious problems. There were still national tasks to be met, and they must be met by a National Government.

“I agree with Mr Stanley Baldwin, Sir John Simon and Mr t’amsay MacDonald,” said Mr Forbes, “when they say that party feeling has been sunk in a common desire for national security." ITe said that his belief in 1 He desirability of national government had been , strengthened ,Hv the unanimous support of ids own electorate and he believed that the country as a whole rea-ii-'sed the benefits of solid coalition administration. A suggestion that there would be an early election was denied by the Prime Minister.