THE PRIME MINISTER

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1928, Page 6

THE PRIME MINISTER

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

PLKEKOHE. November 1

The Prime Aliuister addressed a, capacity house at the Strand 'theatre at Pukokohe to-night on similar lines to his previous speeches, except that he directed attention to Air Holland’s speech at Auckland last night rclatne to an increase in the family allowances. Air Holland credited him with saying that' the Government intended to make the allowance £*250,000 annually. In this Air Holland had misrepresented the position, as what he said was that- the allowance would ultimately range trom .0200,000 to 0230,- ()()(), and increases, he said, would he made as soon as the country was in a position to stand it. Air Holland had made reference at Auckland to the restoration of the 102.1 cut in the wages ol civil servants. This was made by the Leader of a party which was putting itself up to the highest bidder and which was going to pay for it- with the country’s money, and by a party which had no responsibility. The position was that since the cut was made a process of re-grading and re-classification cl public servants had taken place. It would, said Air Coates, he extremely difficult to restore the cut tr ihe public servants. How it could he done Mr Holland only could say. As soon its the country was in a position, the Government- would consider the matter and give benefits if possible. Reference was made to Air Sterling by Air Coates, who said that Air Holland criticised his salary and his superannuation, hut did not say whetc they could get someone better to manage the railways. He (Air Coates; believed .or Sterling would make good, because he bad the co-operation of the railway servants, and was striving to obtain co-operation from the public. Ah- Coates described Air Holland’s iclcrcnce to there being neither order nor method in the running of Parliament to-day as being ridiculous and too absurd for words. “ AA’bat would be suggest? Eight, hours a (lay? ” asked Air Coates. Parliament, lie said, was conducted well, and lie believed a majority of members agreed such was the case. Last session more work bad been done m loss time than usual. He declared Air Holland bad received better treatment from him than any other Leader ol the Opposition ever bad. Air Holland asserted that the Government had tricked people over tlr Licensing Bill. He (Air Coates) it an emphatic denial. He considered the country had had a Tail* and square deal. He said the people knew it. and that the Leader of the New Zealand Alliance had confirmed this. Air Coates spoke relative to the printing of the three-issue ballot-pap-ers for the referendum. Air Holland had been assured, lie said, that nothing but local restoration papers bad been printed, and not those dealing with the main issue. Despite documentary evidence to that effect and the assurances, why did Air Holland continue to make such statements?

A unanimous vote ol thanks and confidence in the Government was passed, and Afr Coates was choero' from the commencement to the conclusion of his meeting.