REFORM LEAGUE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1928, Page 1

REFORM LEAGUE

CONFIDENCE IN AIR COATES. WELLINGTON. Alarch 24. At a meeting of the AA’ellington branch of the New Zealand Political Reform League, described as a “ kickoil' ” in the election campaign, the Prime .Minister (Air Coates) and Mrs Coates were present. A resolution was passed placing on record appreciation of the statesmanlike qualities displayed by Air Coates in the. discharge of his onerous duties since lie became Prime AFinister in .May, 1925, and expressing continued confidence in him and his colleagues. In his address, Air Coates spoke in defence of the policy of the Government, referring especially to tlie Singapore Base and its Imperial connexion. He spoke of the improved conditions in the export trade and the 'opening up of now markets, dealing also with tbe position of affairs in Samoa, and the difficulties tlie Government and the -Uiministrator bad to contend against in meeting tlie policy of passive resistance offered by tlie Alan, which was accentuated by the determination of the Government to employ force only in the event of actual violence being attempted by tlie malcontents. He referred to tlie difficulties occasioned by unemployment in tliis country and the measures adopted by the Government to find employment for those who were out of work as a result of the depression, which he was pleased to say was fast disappearing. As indicating the improved condition of affairs, lie quoted figures showing that for tlie 11 months ended February 29th. the exports displayed an excess over imports of £8,897,436, which was £2,000.600 more than the excess of imports for the same period of 1926 and 1927 combined. With regard to immigration, Air Coates stated that for 11 months of the financial year the immigrants only numbered 3587, against 11,2,59 during tin' same period in 1927. Under tlie restricted immigration policy they were only providing assisted passages for separated families, domestic single women up to the age of 40 years, juveniles, and children of both sexes, parties of Church ol England and Salvation Army hoys, and parties of Flock House hoys. The oiled ol tins restriction wore first 101 l at the end ol Ala.v. when the arrivals dropped from 933 to 189 a month, the average drop in the arrivals since the restriction has beer, in force being 72 per cent, a month.