CO-OPERATION OF PARTIES

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1931, Page 9

CO-OPERATION OF PARTIES

LEADERS TO BE UNOPPOSED UNITED ANSWERS REFORM LEAD. MR. FORBES’ ACKNOWLEDGMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, July 2S. Acknowledging the compliment paid him by the Reformers of Huruuui and the action of the national executive in regard to the matter, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes to-day said that his views with regard to the desirability of securing the utmost unity and co-operation among all sections of the community had not changed but had been strengthened. He was even more convinced to-day that it would be in the best interests of the country were it possible to put them in operation, continued the Prime Minister. He hoped the lead shown by the electors of Hurunui might be followed in other parts of the Dominion. Members of the New Zealand executive of the United Party, at its weekly meeting last evening, expressed satisfaction at the appreciation of the Prime Minister shown by the supporters of the Reform Party in the Hurunui electorate by the decision that it was desirable to retain his services to the country and not oppose him at the forthcoming general election. > It was unanimously decided that in view of the Prime Minister’s desire to have a national party adm’nistering the affairs of the Dominion, with which the executive is wholly in agreement, and as members of the executive desired that nothing should be done to militate against this, the New Zealand executive of the United Party would _ recommend, to the party’s organisation in the Kaipara electorate that a candidate should not be nominated to oppose the Leader of the Opposition. PARTY HEADQUARTERS EXPLAIN. LOCAL ORGANISATION’S DECISION. Wellington, Last Night. It was stated at Reform Party headquarters to-day that the action taken in the Hurunui electorate rested primarily with the local organisation of the Reform Party. At headquarters there was certainly no thought of asking for or desiring any reciprocal arrangement regarding the electorate represented by Mr. Coates, and headquarters would not seek any quid pro quo for the Reform Party in return for the decision of the organisation at Hurunui. It was said it was understood to be simply a matter of leaving the Prime Minister as such free to attend to public business, instead of involving him in an election campaign. > The Reform Party had announced candidates for nearly all of the seats in the Dominion and th'e selection of the few remaining candidates is now being completed. “I never have and I am not seeking a compromise with anyone in my electorate,” Mr. Coates said emphatically tonight, in confirming the Reform headquarters statement that the action taken by the Christchurch executive was the concern only of the district.