REFORMERS AND LIBERALS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 2 July 1925, Page 5

REFORMERS AND LIBERALS.

PROPOSED FUSION. ’ BADINAGE IN HOUSE. Towards the end of his speech in the House yesterday, Mr. T. K. Sidey, the -Liberal Member for Dunedin South, .asked why members could not get together apart from party. A Labour member: You will get together in a week or two. Mr. Sidev said he knew it was not practicable at the present moment. He believed everyone was anxious to Ho .his. part, and if opportunity comes to promote the interests of this great and glorious country. The Hon; Sir James Parr, Minister for Education, remarked that the speech of Mr. Sidey v. as entirely free from party bitterness. There were observations in the speech of Mr. Sidey with which he entirely agreed. In fact, he often asked wnat separated the hon. .gentleman and himself in politics. Mr. Parry (Labour member for Auckland Central): We have been wondering that quite a long time. Sir James Parr: Perhaps lam the more radical of the two. Mr. Langstone: You are in and he is -out. Sir James said that the present position was somewhat delicate, and gentlemen were meeting to endeavour to amalgamate the more moderate elements in the House, and it would ill become him to make any comment on "the associations.that were going to follow. POLITICAL MARRIAGE. Mr. E. J. Howard (a Christchurch Labour representative): When docs the wedding take place? Sir James: 1 deprecate the attempts from quarters outside the. two families to hasten the marriage. Hasty marriages, it lias been my professional experience, often end in an appeal to the divorce court. These ill-advised interventions by outside parties are not welcome, dr of the slightest use. It should not be forgotten that this is not :i case of love at first sight. To hurry matters would not help the happy young couple. A Labour member: Better look out or 'there will be a claim for breach of promise.

Sir James: There are such things as .marriage claims, and other things to be settled. Mr. Parry: God help the children! Sir James: There is a problem to •solve, and it is better to let them go into the matter with goodwill without taking any steps which would prevent a proper and natural alignment of the parties. A WORD FROM MR. HOLLAND. Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, moved his no-confidence amendment. In doing so he made passing reference $o the fusion question. Everyone, he said, would agree that the position in the House at the present moment was far from satisfactory by reason of the negotiations proceeding between the Government and the Liberal Party. An hon. member on the Government side: What are they? Mr. Holland: I suppose the lion, member knows that better than I do.

I should say it was a preliminary flirtatious courtship, which may or may jlupt end in anything. However, much the interest has been missing by reason of the fact that both the Government party and the Liberals are marking time, and are afraid to say anything that wil hurt each other’s feelings. He could not help noticing the difference there wa§ in the opening speeches of this debate as compared with other debates. MR. ATMORE’S . AMENDMENT. Mr. Atmore produced the terms of the amendment he proposes to move -during the Address-in-Reply debate. ..Here they are: — I. That it is imperatively necessary, in the best interests of the Dominion, ■that a strong, stable national Government should be formed during tho present session, in order to provide a comprehensive policy of reconstruction and •economic and social betterment;., and by so ministering to the true needs cf •the people avert the dangers of a breakdown of representative government and the menace to orderly progress now threatening owing to the increase of parties and the consequent «iility of the Government to functor the welfare of the State. 2. That no considerations of party advantage, personal ambitions, or claims of candidates should be allowed to block the way to the immediate for.jnation of such national Government. 3. That in the event of the parties concerned failing to arrive at an agreement to establish such a Government, full information 9hall be given to the people, showing the nature of the proposals discussed and the attitude and actions of each party, so that the public may then judge those, who have /failed to put national interest before the interests of parties and persons, and thus proved unworthy of the publie confidence. There was another caucus of the Reform Party last night. At midnight it broke up, and the Prime Minister •said there was nothing to report.