PARTY FUSION SUGGESTED

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1934, Page 5

PARTY FUSION SUGGESTED

CAMPAIGN IN AUSTRALIA UNITED-COUNTRY GROUPS ACCEPTANCE DOUBTFUL LEADERS SEEK SOLUTION By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, June 2. The Sydney Morning Herald’s Melbourne correspondent says the United Australia Party considers the only permanent and satisfactory solution of the differences between the United Australia Party and the United Country Party is a complete union of the two parties and organisations throughout the Commonwealth.

This is the effect of the reply made by the Premier, Mr. J. A. Lyons, to Dr. Earle Page’s suggestion. It is considered Dr. Page’s proposals do not go far enough, and under them both parties would be placed in an anomalous position of agreement in New South Wales and conflict in certain other States.

It is not expected that the Country Party will accept the proposal for a union of the two parties.

A move towards unity of non-Labour parties at the coming Federal elections was made when Dr. Earle Page, Leader of the Country Party, on behalf of the central council of the party in New South Wales, offered to refrain from contesting United Australia Party seats in New South Wales and to arrange for a full exchange of preferences in other seats.