FUSION QUESTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19347, 30 June 1925, Page 4

FUSION QUESTION

According to our Parliamentary correspondent, the general opinion in Wellington seems to be that fusion between Reformers and Liberals cannot reasonably be expected to take effect until after the General Election. There arc. good grounds for this belief. The Liberals, our correspondent says, are desirous of fusion. That may well be taken for granted, as amalgamation is necessary for many of them if they are to have any hope of retaining their seats in the House. On the other hand, so far as the Reform Party is concerned, it is pointed out that the difficulty in the way of amalgamation at present is the necessity of considering the interests of supporters in various electorates. This, it is claimed, is*reasonablo in view of the staunchness with which many prospective candidates have supported the party over a long period of years. To drop old stalwarts as a matter of expediency—especially when that dropping would in some cases be in favour of old enemies of the party—would naturally cause dissension in the. ranks of the party, if not actual revolt. The Reform Party is convinced it would carry the polls “off its own bat,” but despite that confidence the party is approaching the question of fusion in an unselfish and sympathetic spirit. In this connection it is interesting to note that the Liberals refrained from voting for or against a motion of no-confidence moved by the Labour Party last evening.