FORCING THE ISSUE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16773, 4 July 1925, Page 7

FORCING THE ISSUE.

LIBERAL FUSION ACTIVITIES. FINAL QUESTION TO PRIME MINISTER, reporter.i WELLINGTON, this day. “Fusion! will either be on or off within a- few days,” declared a Liberal member to your correspondent last night. His view is supported bv several corroborative circumstances, the most obvious one being that certain members of the Liberal party who in accordance with custom had indicated their intention to speak on the Address-in-Replv to-day, subsequently withdrew their names. The Liberals, it is evident, have given uj) the profitless task of talking on a noconfidence motion aimed at the policy of a party with which they are discussing fusion. It is stated that an effort towards finality was made in a very posi-. tivc form by the Liberals submitting to the Prime Minister a direct question to answer, viz., whether his party is favorable to the formation of an entirely new party, with a new name? Reformers are said* to have left the decision to their elected leader, a heavy responsibility for one individual, especially with tho knowledge which party gatherings has given him that well over a dozen of his supporters do not like the idea of association with tho Liberals. However, the Liberals are said to have no qualms about backing the new Prime Minister, il their principles are recognised in tho policy he will frame. That is said to be their only stipulation. REFORM MEMBER DEFENDS LIBERALS. (Parliamentary Reporter). WELLINGTON, this day. Some of the caustic- Labor referenoes to tho fusion negotiations were dealt with in the House last night by Mr. Wright, Reform member for Wellington Suburbs. They had accused the Liberals, bo said, of wanting to sell their souls to the Reformers, who simply kicked them in return. Wfio asked the Liberal party to marge with tho Reform party, inquired Kir. Wright, who pointed out that Labor members were always declaring that the fight, between the two old parties was a “sham” fight, and their proper place was to be together. When something was attempted, though the Liberals probably took no notice of Labor advice, the extreme Labor party made unjust statements about the Liberals selling their political souls. “I say the Liberal party has never attempted to sell itself in any way. All along, in these negotiations, they have conducted themselves as gentlemen, and nothing is gained by the Labor party resorting to such tactics of misrepresentation of politicians.” “Youthful sir, why did you leave the Socialist, party?” interjected a Labor inmnbor, while Mr. Wright from the Government, benches was administci’lng a trouncing to the opposite party. “E have minuted in sack cloth and ashes, but like Banco’s ghost, this sin haunts me time after time,” confessed Mr Wright, and he pleaded that this was the only political black mark against him, hut all the waters of Jordan did not appear to bo able to wash it out. He had once believed it was possible to give everyone happiness under Socialism, but bo found out that the men around him nt that time could not even run “their own littlu tin-pot,'show” without running into debt. Mr. Langstone : There was no money in it,!. Mr. Wright: That’s correct. Directly a Socialist gets any money he censes to be a Socialist. | | J pr PrpfMt Assoritihon WELLINGTON, last, night. Matters in connection with tlm fusion of the political parties now appear to he drawing to a dose. The fifth conference of delegates was held yesterday, after which the Liberal party decided to defer answers to certain propositions until they are able to consult their leader, Mr. Wilford, who. at present, is indisposed. Tim fact, that, Mr. Young has gone to Auckland to-night and will not return till Tuesday seems to indicate that there will be no" need for further conferences during' the week-end, so far as the Raform party is concerned. Apparently tho negotiations by conference have reached finality. From what can ho gathered in the lobbies the issues have been reduced down 10 one question, and on the agreement or disagreement of that question, fusion, or no fusion will depend. The. general feeling is that the negotiations have been strung out long enough, and it- is expected that there will bo a definite settlement one way or the other during the week-end.