THE REFORM PARTY

Southland Times, Issue 17060, 5 June 1912, Page 2

THE REFORM PARTY

A MEETING XZT WBXiEINGTOII. NO COALITION REPORT. Mr Massey and several members of the Reform party have arrived in Wellington, and will hold a meeting lasting over two or three days. A telegram from Auckland in Monday's Post refers to a coalition in which Mr Myers is to have the Premiership. The telegram goes on to say : ‘‘The return of Messrs Russell and Ell to private membership is next proposed, and the fusion would be effected by the entrance to the Ministry of the Leader of the Opposition and two members of his party. The plan would be completed by a gathering of the ‘Middle’ party behind the Ministry and the segregation of Conservatives and extremists to the shades of Opposition. Mr Massey, on being questioned last evening, said he would agree to a coalition.”

Mr Massey, on being interviewed regarding ibis telegram, said: “1 have had nothing whatever to do with the proposed coalition suggested in a telegram sent from Auckland and published in this evening’s paper. 1 have not been approached in any way regarding it, though I have heard from reliable sources that a Wellington business man who has always been a strong supporter of the late r Seddon and Sir Joseph Ward is interesting himself in the matter by interviewing members and editors of certain newspapers, with a view to securing support for a combination to be selected from both sides of the House. I may say, however, that I don’t intend to allow' that sort of thing to affect me in the slightest. I have already expressed the opinion, both on the platform and off it, that the time has arrived for the patriotic, progressive, and unselfish men to work together. That is the form of coalition, if it can be called coalition, in which I believe, and which 1 think is wanted by the country; hut taking the statement in the evening paper and comparing it with an opinion that is supposed to have been expressed by me gives an entirely false impression, and one that is not warranted by any tiling I have ever said.”