N.Z. POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1933, Page 7

N.Z. POLITICS

CLAIMED “CLEAN AND HONEST.” CHRISTCHURCH, September 13. The claim that politics m New Zealand were as clean a s anywhere in the world was made by the Acting-Prime-Minister ftlie tit. Hon. J. G. Coates; during his address at Lyttelton. Air Coates referred to a quotation from the London “Financial Times” of July last which commennded the steps taken by New Zealand to meet her difficulties. A voice: What did it cost you to get that in? Mr Coates: All it cost wa s straightforward politics. Another voice: Politics cannot be stra i glitforward. Air Coates: Yo,u are wrong there. It is a great mistake for people to imagine that politics in New Zealand are corrupt. They are as clean and honest as anywhere in the world. A voice: What about Fraser in tno House? Air Coates: He hasn’t committed a scandal, has he? (Laughter). Second voice: What about Dick Seddon and the voucher? Air Coates replied that that liad been looked into, ard as far as be knew, Mr Seel don had come out with his soul as white as snow. “I can assure you that no one in politics in New Zealand would be connected with anything that could be called shameful,” be went on. “AVe make mistakes in judgment, but as for political influence on questions which have an important bearing on the community, no one can say that of us.”