HON J. G. COATES

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1929, Page 3

HON J. G. COATES

A LUNCHEON SPEECH. •; ''By. Tolograph-r-Pro* Associs tion). INVERCARGILL. June 13. At a luncheon tendered by his supporters here to-day, the Hon. j. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, said that when the Reform Party relinquished the reins of office, the credit 'of the country stood higher than ever before, showing that the policy followed had been sound in principle and had worked out in practice. In addition to producing healthy trading balanees, he said, the late Government had been instrumental in reducing the . consolidated accounts by £190,000, by which sum taxation had been reduced. The Reform Government had never waved the flag or endeavoured to take credit that was not due, nor had they, hesitated to give their opponents full credit for any good work. He hoped the present Government would be as fair in its treatment. .Mr Coates said that it was not generally known in the South Island that all negotiations towards the establishment df a regular shipping service between Victoria, and the South Island had been , carried out by himself, and all that was left for the present Gov- " eminent to do was to take up specifications’ and finalise the matter. Referring <to railway construction, ,!*. Mr Coates said that lie hoped that before the Government proceeded with any project, - a full statement on the >•; ' economic position would be made available in order that the costs might he « weighed against the advantages. v, Mr Coates touched on the Taupe, railway (which has been stopped). He stressed that full investigations MyeVe mnde before any work had been pfofo»ded with. They had shown that the project had been fully justified. The Tnupo railway could not he hempared with the South Island Main Trunk extension, as the former was purely a developmental line. In regard to the latter line, he find srtid :,J that the line should be completed, but careful investigation was necessary before the work could he put in hand. “We have a hard job in front of us as the Opposition,” Mr Coates concluded, “ but it will he full of interest. We shall give the Government reasonable Time and opportunity, but there i shall be criticism'.if it is necessary. ■ , and we will expect the Government to * / answer any.questions we may ask.”