BLAMING MR. McLEOD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19443, 31 October 1925, Page 9

BLAMING MR. McLEOD

FOB FAILURE OF FUSION. PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS OUT. TALK OF DOMINATION REFUTED. (Special to “Chronicle.”) DANNEVIRKE, Oct. SO. In the course of a speech at Dannevirke to-night, Mr Coates dealt with the subject of fusion, of which a good deal had been heard in the electorate. He said that the negotiations had failed, but it was entirely incorrect to make statements to the effect that his colleague, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, was responsible for the breakdown. Neither was it correct to suggest that Mr McLeod really dominated the Reform Party, including the Prime Minister. He did not think any well-inform-ed person would be likely to take such a statement seriously. There was no truth whatever in it, and Mr Coates would not be dominated by anyone. If people thought there was any blame lying at the door of the Government they could blame him, and no one else. It was not a bit of use blaming Mr McLeod.

The fact of the matter was, said Mr Coates, that these people had had their opportunity. After the discussions had proceeded some distance all differences of policy had been overcome, and a modus operand! respecting the electorate had been arrived at. However, the Liberals said that any other course than immediate reconstruction was unacceptable to them. When they said that the matter was left entirely to him to reconstruct; they knew perfectly well that had he left them out there would have been a Donnybrook. Anyhow, that would not have been honest of him. He had said when he had taken over the leadership that there would be no immediate reconstruction, and he could not be expected to break his word. That was why fusion was off.

If it was right that there should have been fusion, continued the Prime Minister, then what was the difference in the position to-day? He repeated that we wanted to get back to the two-party system, and said the only thing was for the Nationalists to get right in behind the Government, or for the electors to say that they would vote only for those who would stand by the Government and the man who led it. He impressed upon them the necessity for sending to Parliament men who were going to be loyal to him in helping him to carry out the policy which he had planned for the development of the national resources and the- general progress and prosperity of the Dominion.