FUSION NEARER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17569, 20 June 1925, Page 2

FUSION NEARER.

REPORT DRAWN UP. REFORM AND LIBERALS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 20. The first stage in the amalgamation of Reform and Liberal-Labour parties has been completed. This morning a conference of delegates from each side concluded the business for which they had been appointed and on which thev had been engaged since Thursday afterThe joint report is now in the hands of the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition. The delegates sat until 9.15 o’clock last night, and it was agreed that Mr J. A. Young, leader on the Reform side, should draft the report. Mr Young did not complete his labours until 2 o’clock this morning. This morning the delegates met again to consider the report as drafted, and finally it was approved, each party having a copy for presentation to its leader. Mr Young subsequently informed a “Post” reporter that the conference had resolved that no details of what had taken place should be communicated to the Press, but he stated that the delegates had conferred with the greatest earnestness, and the proceedings had been marked by the utmost goodwill and harmony throughout. It is believed that the conference reached a favourable point towards the object in view, but it will now be for the caucuses of both parties to decide what the next step shall be. The leader of the Liberal-Labour party (Mr Wilford) declined to say anything this afternoon bej-ond remarking that he had received the report. The Prime Minister stated that the Reform Party’s caucus woUld not take place until after Parliament met next Thursday. Mr Coates said that it would be impossible to hold a caucus of the members of the Reform Party befo-e Thursday, because some of them would not arrive in Wellington before that day. In reply to a question the Prime Minister said he would not submit the report to the caucus as that would >2 the duty of the delegates who had conferred with the Liberal members. Mr Young returned to Hamilton this afternoon and Mr J. O. Hawken left fur Taranaki this morning. Mr T. D. Burnett, who was one of the Reform delegates, left for the south last night. Mr G. W. Forbes, who was leader for the Liberal-Labour Party at the conference, will leave for Christchurch tonight.