PRIME MINISTER VISITS MANAWATU.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3868, 8 November 1928, Page 2

PRIME MINISTER VISITS MANAWATU.

ADDRESSES MEETINGS AT BULLS, .FOXTON, SHANNON AND LEVIN. After opening the A. and P. Show at Wanganui yesterday morning the Prime Minister, accompanied by Airs. Cbates,- (motored through to Bulls where they had lunch. They were greeted by Mr. J. Linklater, ALP., Sir J. G. Wilson, Hon. E. Newman, Air. J. E. Walker (cjhairman of the Town, Board), and others. Mr. Walker presided at the luncheon and extended a welcome from the residents of town and district. He expressed pleasure at the presence of Sir J. G. Wilson and Hon. E. Newman whom lie described as the old stalwarts and apologised for the absence of Mr. H. J. D. AlcAianaway who had been invited to be present but who had to leave for a distant part 1 to deliver an address.

In reviewing the accomplishments of the Government, the Prime Alinister averred that taxation had been relieved for the working man and State departments had been managed in a manner which vied with any other part of the British Empire. The main features of the Government had been economy and efficiency. Every endeavour had been made to develop the country. The general outlook from his own point of view, was satisfactory and ithe Party would go back into power frith a bigger majority. than before. ‘‘That is my straight judgment,” he added, “without embellishments.” Mr. Coates thanked the gathering for the generous manner in which he had been received. OUTSIDE THE TOWN HALL.

“I hope you do the right thing next week,” observed the Prime Alinister when speaking to a gathering outside the Bulls town hall immediately after the luncheon.

A voice: “Yes, vote for AlcAlanaway.” Air. Coates: “He’s a very fine supporter of the present Government and a man of whom we have a high opinion (applause). We have another fine man here too (laughter and applause). You are getting it right from the horse’s

mouth now,” continued the Prime Minister. “While you are fighting amongst yourselves, here is the situation that is being created — good party votes are being split up and the result .is you lose the chance that is yours. It is of vital importance for you to know that the man to govern the couritry should be the man who will never stoop to one action that will discredit the Dominion.

“During the last six weeks, I have had sitting opposite me, men who take a delight in decrying the country. I hear nobody saying ‘hear, hear.’ (Daughter). 'Bull's has been famous for its solid, sensible opinions for years past and I hope you will show it again.”

Cheers called for the Prime Alinister and Afrs. Coates were lustily given as also were cheers for Air. McManaway. AT FOXTON.

On reaching Foxton, the party stopped in front of the school, where the Prime Minister was greeted with cheers. Mr. and Mrs. Coates chatted to the children and delivered a brief address to them. He exhorted them to be studious and dutiful (especially to their parents), to play their games for all they were worth, to be modest iii victory and take their losses as real New Zealand boys and girls. Un the call of the headmaster (Mr. P. Mason) cheers were given for Mr. and Mrs. Coates. ADDRESS AT TOWN HALL. The Prime Minister and Mrs. Coates were received at the Town Hull entrance by the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. M. E. ■Perreau),. and were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. J. Linklater and on to the stage which was occupied prominent local and district men and their’•wives. The Mayor extended a cordial and civic welcome to the Prime Minister and Mrs. Coates who were splendidly received by the large gathering. Presentation of bouquets were made by Miss Gower to Mrs. Coates and Mrs. Linklater.

’ OUT OF THE DEPRESSION. After expressing his pleasure atthe welcome extended him and Mrs. Coates the Prime Minister observed that since the war the country had faced a general deflation in the value of products sent overseas. That had affected the primary producers, upon whom the prosperity of tlie country depended. When the farmer was pinched then the rest of the community felt it also. The Opposition had claimed that legislation could have avoided the slump but he asked how could economic depression be alleviated by any enactment of Parliament? His opponents were only misleading the people. In 1926 the trading balance was five millions behind but the country immediately aligned itself with the position. The worst feature, however, was the growth of unemployment. Conditions had changed fortunately and now New Zealand was experiencing a measure of prosperity. Had the prophecy of the Opposition been fulfilled? Had the salaries of the Civil Service and workers been lowered? 'The Government had not reduced salaries nor wages and normal promotions and advancements had been met. Nobody hated unemployment more than he did. His party had been accused of inactivity.

ONE IN 300 IDLE. Could not the people realise New Zealand was not the only country with unemployment? A comparison with other countries was illuminating. In U.S.A., the unemployed were one in 60, in Great Britain one in 38, in Australia one in 160. New Zealand had one in 300, showing that the Dominion was better off than any other country. He assured the audience the Government would not be a party to any cutting down of wages and the offer of 9s and 12s had been made only to tide men over critical periods. Generally speaking, no married man had earned less than 12s a day and in some instances up to £l. DEVELOPING THE COUNTRY. Figures were quoted to show how much had been spent on developing the country. Aloney had been spent on erecting schools. A voice: “Not in the country!” Air. Cpates: “I beg to differ. You are not conversant with the situation.” The Prime Alinister characterised unemployment insurance as a dead weight burden on the country. Unemployment would have to be met and the Government would have to do it. For instance, increased family allowances could be given, but liot before the country could afford it. Extension of the Child Welfare Act and -medical and dental inspections were necessary. Dental clinics were needed in the country districts to give the rural child what the city child now received. PENSIONS FOR SEAII-WIDOWS. Returned soldiers and invalids also needed support hut it needed money to give effect to those desires. One of the first pieces of humanitarian legislation that had to be tackled was the giving of relief to women with permanently invalided husbands. He had been working out the problem for years and believed he had reached a solution.

A voice: “If it’s left too long, they won’t get the benefit of it.” Mr. Coates: “I agree. We have tackled the problem and have set in motion machinery to bring about an understanding between the Government and Friendly Societies in the matter. “We stand for equal opportunities for our citizens,” declared the speaker, “but we have to remember the country can only carry a certain load and that we have just come through a period of depression, when it would have been unwise to increase taxation.” RETURN TO PROSPERITY.

The customs tax bad fallen but the income tax had been increased. The result was that the working man was not being hit but his burden lightened. This year exports had exceeded imports by something like £12,000,000. The banks had approximately' £11,000,000 more than last year. Deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank had almost overtaken withdrawals. All this indicated the return of prosperity. The country’s wealth had increased enormously and there was more money in the hands of investors. There was an increase of 11 per cent, men employed in manufactures and 42 per cent, in machinery investments and the like. INDUSTRIAL PEACE.

New Zealand had enjoyed' a measure of peace second to none in the history of the Dominion. The Country Party had accused 1 the Government of favouring the city and the city man said it was favouring the country. The United Party said the Reform Party was too Socialistic and the Labour Party said it was too Tory. It seemed to him, in these circumstances that the Government had been pretty good (applause and laughter) and that it had administered the affairs of the Dominion wisely and well (applause). He declared the Government was not antilabour and endeavoured to show that it had uplifted the conditions under which men and women worked. The Government had had tremendous powers in its hands but he declared it had never abused them and in the report of the Industrial Commission he foresaw a solution of difficult problems affecting the workers. A voice“ Why don’t you do that for the fiaxworkers?” Mr. Coates; “I would be the last one to ask a worker to accept lower wages, but if, in the interests of the country, an industry should be pushed ahead and the men agreed to a lower rate of wages, then when prosperity returned the workers should be the first to benefit by it. If there is any man who has worked harder than I for the fiaxworkers show him to me,” declared the speaker. . “I have yet to be shown that the flaxmillers will not meet the workers in the manner I have suggested.” A voice: “They haven’t done it.” Mr. Coates: “My experience of the flaxmillers is that they will meet the men but they are up against things. All I can do is to keep on trying to bring about that measure of agreement where employers and workers stand together through depression and prosperity.” (Applause). LEGISLATION. The Prime Minister referred tg legislation passed by Parliament — the Local Government Loans Bill the Highways Act and Petrol Tax and bills making agricultural education possible. There was no eyewash in the measures dealing with agricultural production. The establishment of the Science and Research Board would be of immense advantage to the Dominion leading to short cuts to efficient and increased production. That piece of legislation would save to the Dominion more money than any other Act had saved it in 20 years. Science to-day meant more to the

primary producer and industry than anything else.

The Rural (Credits Acts had helped the farmers immensely. They had given them cheap money to develop their farms. Cheaper freights to the farmer had been granted as well as incentives to production in the fonn of subsidies. A Government was justified in asking the people to assist an industry provided it was to increase export trade which brought wealth to the country.

All these enactments had been stepping stones to prosperity and the placing of more men on the land with resultant increased production and prosperity. A voice: “You have a go for 20 years.”

Mr. Coates: “I have had more than 20 years on the land by a long shot and I’m no dud farmer.” (Applause).

The Prime Minister said he realised that the extension of the small farm idea would be a step in the right direction, as also would he the group settlement of young v men as farmers. Another important proposal was the bringing into production, of second-class country, such as the pumice lands. There were those who scoffed at the settling of the pumice areas but all he asked was for those who disbelieved him, to go and see for themselves. While there was a howl of want of capacity on the part of the Go- . vernment, it was significant that New Zealand’s credit abroad had never been so high, although the Dominion had come through a period of industrial depression. . THANES AND-CONFIDENCE.

AH. J. K. Hornblow moved, “This meeting conveys its thanks to the Prime Alinister for his able and convincing address, expresses its appreciation of the manner in which the country has been administered in the past three years and pledges continued confidence in the Government.” Air. B. G. Gower seconded the motion which was carried by acclamation.

A vote of thanks to the Mayor concluded the meeting. 'Cheers were given for the Prime Minister and Airs. Coates, who vr then entertained at afternoon prior to leaving for Shannon at*. Levin.

AT SHANNON. In extending Air. and Mrs. Coates a welcome to Shannon, the DeputyAiayor (Mr. T. C. Thwaites) said their only complaint was that they did not see enough of the Prime Alinister and Mrs. Coates. The Prime Alinister addressed the gathering, which was a largerone, on the fines of his previous addresses, and was cheered at the conclusion of. his remarks. There was a touching unrehearsed incident as AH’. Coates came out into the street. An invalid in a chair was among the waiting crowd and the Prime Alinister shook hands with the man and chatted with him for a few moments. “Keeping your pecker up? That’q. r the stuff,” said Mr. Coates as he entered the waiting car.' AH-. J. Linklater will address local electors in the Royal theatre to-morrow evening at 8 o’clock.