PRIME MINISTER.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18409, 16 June 1925, Page 8

PRIME MINISTER.

VISIT TO PUKEKOHE.

{SPECIiL TO "THE TRESS.")

AUCKLAND, June 15.

The Prime Minister, (the Hon. J. G. Coates) arrived at Pukckobo by the Limited Express this morning, accompanied by his privato secrotary (Mr 1\ D. Thomson), and even. at that early hour found the town actively engaged in decorating itself for the occasion of his visit. Tho main street is alive from end to end with bunting, giving it a festive appearance. Tho Prime Minister was met at the station by Mr J. 8. Dickson, M.P. (Chief Reform Whip), Mr G. H. Wilson (chairman of tho Auckland branch of tho Eeform League), Mr John Eou'tly (Mayor of Pukekohc), Mr A. E. Davy (organiser of the Reform League), Mr Frank Perkins (president), and Mr J. B. Sim (secretary of tho Pukokoho branch of the League), and Mr John Massey, a son of tho late Prime Minister.

Tho station was decoratod in welcome, and Mr Coatos appcarod to bo greatly pleased by the warm greeting ho received from the centre which had for so long returned his lato chief to Parlia* ment.

After breakfasting, tho party proccedod to tho Technical High School, whore the Prime Minister was received by tho director (Mr W. l\ J. Munro). In introducing tho Primo Minister to his pupils, Mr Munro asked them to think of the poignant significance of his visit. Only four years ago Mr Mnsscy had opened their 'school, and although he was no longer with them, everyone felt that his ideality of principlo* and his integrity of character would remain as a light shining to guido succeeding generations of tho Dominion's statesmen. Mr Coatea was conferring a signal honour on tho school by his visiti Tho Primo Minister, who was received with rousing choers, said all must realise, as well as he did, how difficult it was for him to follow in tho footsteps of one of thp Emplro's greatest statesmen, Howovor, thoso things camp to pass, and when they did happen it was for somebody olso to carry on, Mr Massey had boen to a, great extent responsible for thoir school, because by his wise use of tho country's rosoureog ho had matdo it possible for thorn to havo tho advantage of tho best education possible in a young nation, '• It was for the boys and girls to tako ad' vantage of that. Mr Massoy was ft wiso and longheaded man, and saw far enough ahead to know and to feel that it was with tho younger generation that tho country's progress and prosperity lay. Now the opportunity was Wore them to learn, and to learn well, to fit themselves for the race that was ahead. Ho wanted them to realise.how\very fortunate they to be in a country so kaopily plaoed and, ho thought, managed as New Zealand was,. They could quite easily see the other side of the picture a few years'ago. If things had gone the other way, they would have been under tho rule of a nation that was anxious to dominate tho world, and they would probably not bo assembled thero that morning talking as they liked, but lbarning the doctrines of that other nation. The British Empire and flag came first. In that lay the whole of their, security, and their freedom of action and speech.

A visit was thou paid to the primary school.

The Prime Minister will receive % Civic reception in Auckland on 'Wodgesjday,,

ADDRESS TO RECORD

AUDIENCE.

VOTE QP CONFIDENCE. PUEEKQHB, Juno 15, The Hon. J. G. Coates addressed, a record audience, estimated at 1000, in tho Pukekojie Theatre to-night in the Reform interest. • He said his policy was to carry on the work left by Mr Massey, who, he endeavoured to "show, bad left the oountry in a sound posi. tion. , The year ended March 31st last ahpwed a revenue of £2B/643,000, a« ©*penditur© of £27,890,230, and a surplus of £1,248,800, indicating a continuance of the prosperous conditions that had obtained since 1921. The expenditure increased by £1,251,195 over last year, but this was anticipated in View of the statutory provision for regrading the salaries and wages of all public employees andy*the changes in the working hours in the railway service, which accounted for a large proportion of the increase. In 1922 the had to face the question of checking the increasing expenditure and effeoting economies; jn order to balance the. Budget and relievo taxation. This was successfully undertaken, and in tho two years 1922-23 and 1923-24 the Expenditure was reduced, and savings of £2,300,000 wene shown, whije for each year sihee 1921-22 the Budget had not only balanced, but had shown a substantial surplua i& epito of the fact that the Consolidated Fund had had to carry heavy subsidies for flour and butter, the cost of which was £1,862,300 in the years 1919-20 to .1922-23. These subsidies were, neces*sary to producers of these commodities, and at the same time to keep down the prices of food. A reduction of taxation of an annual value of £3,000,000.f0r the past three years had been made. Provision of capital for development purposes had in addition been made. Since the armistice development had progressed 80 per cent., and was interest-bearing. This included railways, hyd/ro-elocfcrio schemes, irrigation, advances to settlors and local bodies and telegraphic extension. At the close of the war the question of dealing with the war debt of £82,000,000 had to be faced,, and the first step was to fund the adveunces on that account made by the Imperial Government,- amounting to £26,000,000. By agreement between tho two Governments this amount was placed on an annuity (basis at 6 per cent., including its total redemption in approximately 36 yeairs. The remaining portion of the debt, amounting to approximately £56,000,000, whioh was almost wholly held in New Zealand, was covered by a 1 per cent, sinking fund. The Government could pay off portions of the Imperial debt at any time. Sine© 1921 reductions in the total war debt amounting to ovei £50,000,000 had been effected. The gross war debt now was £76,000,000, against whioh could be set off accumulated sinking funds amounting to £49,000,000, leaving a

(OdtinnM Jrt foot at ntat column.).

net debt: as at March 31st last, "of J £71,700,000. To sum up, a total-ef *$ £10,000,000 ha,d already been | for the inpayment of tho war In state advances £7,000,000 .HWi3*| capital (including expenses of loans) has in two years, to Starch last, been provided for loans to vmM tiers and workers. Further had been mad© for tho current JW%f|| In addition there wero annual wgfe«ft| ments, toprcsimately of £l>9CJO ¥ 'A Some of tho greatest of poßt-war P^ftC 1 J lenis arose through the general afrnjL 1 ago of capital, high rates of J and tho instability of financial co*fl§gf4 tions. To meet this State a4vanjjjNT';|- ] operations were extended, an 4 •SKR' T 1?30, about £18,000,000 btf>N£al&J vanaed to assist in these Bonw said that this was not «PJ£Jm!;, but ho thought it a good deal;Oo|gr items of expenditure were soldieratyjf/i patriation, £20,0Q0,000, and soldiers' settlement, £27,000,000. ;W& ing to the slump, a soldiers' propertjeß had been l£|H§r J an'd they had been written <tavifßp£ s £2,280,000"; Twentwtwo soldiers had been, aided andJf 4 *^ffi s - V and a big proportion of the WI«e»JP { > assisted wore now firn&Jy and the money invested was fairly EJghty-four' thousand returned had been assisted in some way, T» mZM cist to meet the housing shortage, WmM proximately £8,000,000 had- Msu vnuced during thp' three yw» JWSiI March 31st, 192.",, on tho 10,890 houses. In addition, .«sMw&| had been'lent to local autbwitiw f#%| Wig this period for housing This was provided n>ain,ly thronjOi Btato Advances Department, advanced about £630,000. The 6*[j|||||| wa& provided, through local antnonWj&||§ Public Works, Bnd Kailway. ments' and Discharged SohjHW* tlements account. . JjJil The Government bad completely **;S| organised tk,e Railways by W>|Jnlj a Board of Central an,d ««b*™*WS administration, eto. After two #tf>3» hard work a revised tariff *™J&£W ready for submission to chasioew tt&| commerce, etc., who would "JfWiSM with the Hallways Board below tw« final adoption. A. special repert y*W being obtained on railway the four main centres. The at Auckland, Addlngton, and H «gSl , | were obsolete and would ha wMW&Sfo Similarly the Post Office and vices' would be put on a ««gfflW; basis with the aim of tho oest possible. New Zealand waa th * *ff£, country to "adopt the penny PfWKc since the war. The Government M™; that the freehold was tl» *•»«• *E\' New Zealand. No son of the aw would be worth his salt unless he WW tho little piece of land he was J* 1 would be his own some day. TM J**" \ form Government stood for N*?!? 1 -" principles, eeoncmy, and good ,e *!r£ \, At the close an enthusiastic «*•-"- >■ conßdence in the Reform *wfr aM'W'fj leader, and confidence in Beform candidate, was passed. ' t? |