HAURAKI SPEECHES

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1931, Page 6

HAURAKI SPEECHES

AIR COATES’S CRITICISM

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 21

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr J. G. Coates, addressed a public meeting in the Hauraki electorate tonight. He said he would not lay all of the present troubles of the country at the door of the Government. He knew, however, that they were elected on a policy that was impossible of execution. The Government, he said, ha,] aggravated the position by a delay iu realising this so .tlijit there was a reaction greater than there otherwise would have been. The Government’s hesitancy iu going on with its original policy wig of advantage to the Dominion, and of credit to themselves.

Mr Coates, continuing, drew attention to the dangerous position that the country had been getting into during the present Government's regime. He recalled that in 1925-26, a total of eleven millions had been borrowed, but during the next three years, when Reform was still in power, borrowing had been progressively reduced until in 1929, the sum of £5,153.000 had been borrowed in the first eight months of that year. The United Government were in power in the last four months of that year, and they borrowed » further £2,262,000- I" 1930 Iwrrowings reached £8,600,000, and in 1931, it was £9,256,000.

Regarding fusion, Mr Coates s a id he answered people that Reform took a wide view of the position. They were placing the well-being of the country before their party interests. Reform reserved the right of criticism ; hut the Government need have no great alarm that co-operation would not be forthcoming.

Mr Coates described as a fallacy the Labour Party’s argument that wages must he high so as to increase the purchasing power of the people. It was not what was spent in New Zealand that was affecting purchasin'-' power, but the price that- th,> great hulk of their products obtained in th« J world markets.

HON, RANSOM'S REPLY

AUCKLAND, May 21

A denial that the support of the Reform. Party was essential to the safety of the United Government, inis voiced by the Minister of Lands. Hon. Mr Ransom, in a speech he gave at Rapalotoe this evening in the course of the Hauraki bve-election campaign.

Mr Ransom said fl, at the economic crisis that was facing the Dominion was of such a character that. Mr Pori res believed 'that no single party should he asked to heat, alone. the task of putting the country’s House in order. The proposal for a national party, lie said, was the result. Replying to Mr Massey, the P°form candidate, iu the bye-election. Hon. Air Ransom said that it was impossible to balance the budget without further taxation. He said that criticism had been levelled concerning the expenditure on roads, hut no curtailment of that expenditure had taken place. Mr Ransom said that he believed that, in the past, there had been expenditure of a luxurious character upon the highways. If the highways funds had been used more for hack-blocks roads than for roads, which ran parallel to the railways, the country would have been in a more prosperous condition. He the United Government had pursued an active land settlement oolicy in spiH* of the denials of its opponents. It had purchased 52 pro-p-rties, totalling 110,000 acres, at a cost of £847.000. These would make 350 holdings. Wonderful work also was being done in the settlement of idle Crown Lands. The total area iu was 135,000 acres. Vet they were charged with having no laud policy. Mr Ransom gave details of blocks being opened for settlement, and said the Government intended m>t only to place men on the hUPis. but also to stock t-ieir holdings wi-h good cattle. If men were started right they would finish right.