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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 114, 19 June 1914, Page 6

The. old question as to whether or not there is to be a fusion of the. Liberal and Labour parties for purely electioneering, purposes has again been raised. When some time since it was suggested that. Sir Joseph Ward was to receive; the support , of the Social-Democratic Party at the, approaching ejection, a section of the party in Christchnreh. repudiated the idea with considerable em. phasis. One prominent Social-Democrat condemned the Liberals root and branch for their. hesitancy, shuffling, and ineptitude. He said plainly enough that the Liberals could be of. little use to the Bed Fed. combination, and,was emphatic that any Liberalr-Labour*-coali-tion was impossible so far as : the SocialDemocrats were concerned. It is now stated in official quarters that the question will be discussed and settled at the conference called by extreme Labour for next month. Advices ; received from Wellington a few days ago point to the conference being more or less abortive. The various unions of suvy, prominence are hanging back and showing a distinct disinclination to be represented at the gathering,, which, as P. H. Hiekey has advised, ,is intended to complete what the previous expensive conference failed to compass—a working Understanding among all the unions in New Zealand. This will never be consummated while the extremists run these gatherings. Under the ' circumstances there can be no hope of anything approaching a unanimous' expression of opinion from Labour with respect to the proposed political conibinaticn. The Liberals are anxious to have Reformers deposed, because they themselves want the sweets of office. Tlije Syndicalists are equally,' to oust the present Administration,, 9» aeco4n^,of little things that happened i'at and Wellingt;otf.. Whiit more natural than that the two disgruntled:

sections of political thought should combine for the common purpose of bringing about a change of Government. Driven to desperate measures, Sir Joseph Ward may descend to embrace his Syndicalist friends, but in doing so he would damage his case and cause seriously with the general body of elee 1 tors who have heaped contumely on the Labour extremists. Syndicalism is a spent force in these 'parts, and i he Liberals would, be well, advised to seek none of its aid. The Syndicalists can help nobody—not even themselves..