PREMIER’S SPEECH

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1928, Page 2

PREMIER’S SPEECH

By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright.

AYELKINGTON, June 11. The Prime -Minister to-night delivered a speech to a crowded Town Hall meeting. The speech, he said, was not intended to be a policy speech in the full sense of the term. He maintained that the policy ho outlined previous to the 1025 General Election had been very largely translated into actuality. Ho said that the ship of State had been brought through troublous seas on an even keel. He claimed the Government had been guided by and maintained the principle of law and order, justice, liberty, preservation of property, sanctity of religious beliefs, provision for free education and opportunity for citizens, and promotion of the welfare of the whole community, and not any particular section of it. lie claimed the Government had clearly warned the people of the possibilities of tbe depression before it came. They were told that the remedy would be in the people’s united effort, determination, hard work, and increased production. AYhen the depression came, he said, they recognised an imperative necessity for curtailment in national expenditure and took steps accordingly, courageously and successfully, hv intelligent, competent management, but without cutting salaries of public servants, or reducing general Governmental activities. Government and local government borrowing was substantially reduced. He said efforts .were made to reduce the cost of production. Notwithstanding all the storm and stress,

the Minister of Finance had been able to declare a surplus last year. Dealing with the public debt, Mr Coates said the taxation per head in 192(5-27 was £l2 5s Gd in Now Zealand. He compared this with £l4 5s in Australia, of which £9 13s 2d represented , the Commonwealth taxation, and the balance was from the State Governments. The industries of the country had all been under very close examination, and were the Government was satisfied, assistance had been rendered, but it had to be remembered the main principle observed was that New Zealand industries must bo asked to compete with outside articles, and that a total prohibition of imports would not

be contemplated. He said that from 70 to 75 per cent of New Zealand coal was used on the ■N.Z. railways, and N.Z. grown timber was now almost exclusively used for State requirements. The Government policy had been to employ New Zealanders in New Zealand industries, in order to absorb as many men as possible. Because of forestry work, within 15 or 20 years N.Z. forests would be one of the great assets. Through Government efforts, the whole of the primary industries would be on a basis of scientific research, for probably the most important part of industrial life, both primary and secondary. Farmers had been greatly benefited by financial schemes devised by the Government. Dealing with trade conditions, the Prime Minister said he had no hesitation in saying that the outlook for the country was bright. Clouds were dispersing, and there was no room for pessimism. Production had increased and New Zealand, compared with other countries, had much fewer unemployed.

Air Coates denied emphatically that the Government’s unemployment relief rates of 12s a day for married men, and 9s a day for single, was an attack on the trade union rates of wages and an insidious attempt to reduce the wages in New Zealand.

He said it was not proposed to remove the present immigration restrictions until the general position of unemployment had considerably improved. The Government could claim to have preserved industrial peace. It took credit for the Industrial Conference. The Government stood four square for King and Constitution, and subscribed to the ideals of the League of Nations.. Dealing with the General Election, Mr Coates said lie considered there was no room for third parties, -