FUSION ISSUE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17568, 19 June 1925, Page 13

FUSION ISSUE.

DELEGATES DISCUSS PRELIMINARIES. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON. June IS For three hours this afternoon the eight rank and ill© members of the Reform and Liberal Parties appointed to discuss possible fusion conferred in Parliament Building. Each delegation of four had during the morning consulted tho respective lenders, and they went to the conference with a clour unlettered line to explore the possibilities of the situation. It is impossible, however, to avoid feeling that iu Reform ministerial circles tho whole matter is not taken very serio »->ly. Fur the moment there is a benef that ♦ha new Prime Minister, with his vigorous personality, is capable of leading the party through the general elections back to the Treasury benches with a working majority, therefore failure of tue negotiations would not cause anxiety. When the conference had sat three hours it adjourned, and one mcrabti reported that the proceedigs were going well, though only preliminaries were under discussion. ll© thought tb© matter would take some time to come to a head, and in any case the respective ; parties would make the final decision when they met for the session. The Reform delegates immediate!v after the adjournment consulted the Prim© Minister privately. The conference will resume at ten , o’clock on Friday. It was mentioned by another delegate that the proceedings were quite harmonious. both sid©3 include members who have j fusion, and others who have not bee i convinced but have made no strong declarations. Liberals are. however, surprised at the inclusion of Mr Burnett among the Reform representatives, as his health has been so poor during the last year that they arc doubtful if he Vi as been closely in touch with events