MR COATES OBJECTS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1930, Page 6

MR COATES OBJECTS

TO DULLER RAILWAY

ißy Telegraph,-—Press Association).

AUCKLAND, May 5

- The Leader of the. Opposition, Mr J. G. Coates, addressed a packed meeeting in the Tudor Theatre, Rem-uc-ra, to-Jiiight, when many listened to loud speakers outside. Mr Coates said that Mr Holland, the Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, was simply with words wlien ho said that the planks of the Party’s platform did not include tlm socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange. Writ largo across the banner of the Political Labour Party wore the words “Socialisation of production, distribution and exchange.'’ Referring to the United Party, Mr Coates said that it had failed to carry out its promises, particularly in regard - to unemployment. Taking a warning from what was happening in Australia and other parts .of the world, the Reform Government had recognised' that it was necessary to curtail extravagant borrowing and also To curtail many .of the works which were under way.

A voice: “You admit that you were extravagant?” Mr Coates: “1 only admit that for every penny, put into public works, there was. a good and sufficient reason, ‘that could be. argued .oil commercial lines.”

He said , the Reform Government had been successful in bringing borrowing within reasonable limits, '. lieu a new policy of seventy millions took the people off their feet. Then they voted in a way which upset the whole political applecart. It bad been reported that he had'much to say about the South Island Main Trunk line. “I want to say here, that I am in favour of it, if .it can be shown io be a sound commercial proposition,” he said. “\Vith regard to tlm Midland Line it is different. ’The Reform Party says that there should be a halt! The country in that region was badly stricken by a recent severe earth movement. We hope it Ims settled down, but . anyone who Ims v been over the mate will i'cu.hc ike .shaking it has had. We say that tl.ere should be a halt-of a few years before setting out to spend £1,000',000 ■0i5.£1,500,0,00 on the line through the Duller Gorge..

“There is only one candidate to support on . Wednesday,” said All Coates. “It is, no use talking about Uvgeimnd ©lpqtion as a threat. If it comes to, ; a Jr gq!ieral election, _we w ill bn.into tlmt* ejection for. all we are worth,;' .* The t Reform _ .Party; is not down’anil out,'as"sobio would have you ■ believe, . Doth inside the House and in the country the Reform Party is still a dominant Party, and it is still a force to be reckoned with. 'The political situation to-day is veiy diljicult. We have government wit I mu; responsibility. One Party is in office, but, another Party ~is dominating;. it. The real question m whether this electorate wants that state of affairs to continue.

Votes, ,of thanks • and confidence were passed in Air Coates, Mr Endean and the Reform Party.