Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Shannon News, 19 October 1928, Page 4

What the Coates Goilei'mnent has done

Naturally, the opponents of the Coates Government will attempt to belittle the achievements of the Reform Party. That is their business in life. Happily the facts speak for themselves. Electors who prefer to be guided by accomplished* facts rather than by empty talk can judge from the record given] below, what the Coates Government has done for New Zealand. It is a record of sterling performance, of sound and progressive measures carried through without fuss •r fluster for the benefit and advancement of all classes. True to his election pledges of 1925, Mr. Coates has proved himself to be a man who gets thingsdone;

IN politics Parties must be judged, not merely by their Promise*, but by their Performance. That is a fair test. In the election Campaign now developing, the slogan of the Reform Party might well be: *' POLICY, PROMISE and PERFORMANCE," for the policy laid down by Mr. Coates at the last election has been. successfully carried through, and the promises made have been consistently honoured. The Coates Government record is well summed up in the headline to this page—ACHIEVEMENT.

Highways, Railways and Hydro Electricity "HE Coates Administration has achieved immense improvements in the Roading of New Zealand, a bold policy resulting in vast advancement in length and quality. In just over three years the Main Highways Board assisted in constructing 430 miles metal roads, 240 miles tar and bituminous roads, ' 27 miles concrete roads, and over miles mm—m ——— mmmm —— bridging at an expenditure of £2,648,657. Legislation directly to the advancement of highways improvement includes n <a «<«/ A «; M fi- the Petrol Tax (1927), utilised for main Developing highways and roads outside the Main ,» r% • • f Highways Scheme; the increase of the the UOminiOnl Tyre j ax (1926), which is paid into the Main Highways Account Reserve Fund earmarked for maintenance of Main HighAn Act (1926) authorised an increase of from one-third to one-half of the Main Highways Maintenance subsidy to Local Authorities. Elimination of level crossing dangers is being gradually effected. 2,700 miles of Subsidiary Roads, and the Main Roads through all Boroughs of .under 6,000 people have been declared Main Highways. 10,000 milesof the country roading derived benefits from the operations of the Main Highway Board./ Last Session a further Act was passed under which the powers of the Highways Board were enlarged to enable the Board to give still further relief to Local Bodies in the matter of Main Road Construction and Maintenance. The Reform Government recognised the vast importance of Railway construction in developing the Dominion, and on an average every fortnight has seen a mile of Railway built to open up the country and better serve the transport needs of the community. Never in the history of New Zealand has there been such tremendous progress and improvement in road and railway transport facilities. Hydro-electric development has been carried out with thoroughness and expedition, and the schemes under course of construction at the present time afford the fullest possible evidence of the far-sightedness and enterprise of the Coates Government. THE COATES GOVERNMENT HAS GOT THINGS DONE. Education and Industry DURING the past three years the Coates Government has erected many new schools, expending half a million sterling. Schools of the old type are rapidly disappearing, and in the new buildings great attention is given to hygienic conditions. - Where localities desire it experiments are being made with open air schools with a view to ascertaining the beneficial effect on health. A Correspondence School, providing education to over 700 back-block children, has proved most encouraging by results. A large amount of remodelling of old school buildings has been done and this work is being pressed steadily forward. Groups of country schools have been consolidated in several favourable localities where transport can be arranged. By this means country children can attend a school as strongly staffed and as fully conducted as any city school. Though large classes still exist the numbers in each class have been reduced by more than half, which itself shows that the staffing of schools must be more than previously. Students are now being trained in \t D . a new system of physical training which, A JrlTOgTeSStVe by strengthening the important organs of n/• » "• the body, will conduce to good health in fOltCyl • middle and old age. 1 Facilities for giving manual instructs//** Tariff* t t ' on to sen ' or P U P'' B * n primary, schools ww lav M UTlllo • an£ j to j un i or p U pi] a i n secondary schools and district schools have been greatly extended. Children from country schools are carried free by rail to 'centres where manual training is provided. Child Welfare has progressed greatly Dental Clinics have been developed and the health of children specially cared for. The average annual salaries paid to teachers has increased by varying amounts of from £Bl to £126 during the past ten years. Education conditions in New Zealand stand on a par with the most progressive countries of the world.. Industry— The Coates Administration has shown a sympathetic attitude towards industry. It has encouraged production by all possible means, and sought to promote friendly relations in industry. It has consistently advocated and striven for a friendly spirit of conciliation and goodwill. In 1925 there were 83 Labour Disputes; in 1926, 59; in 1927, 40 (of which the Labour Report refers to 2 7 as being trivial), and for 1928 the figures are still less. . The National Industrial Conference (1928), pro,moted by Mr. Coates, has brought a greater understanding between employers andi employees. Both Primary and Secondary industries have received sympathetic consideratidn and the Customs Tariff brought down and passed by the Coates Government was recognised to be the most statesmanlike and soundest revision ever framed in this Dominion. THE COATES GOVERNMENT HAS GOT THINGS DONE. Pensions and Social Welfare social work of the Reform Party. The latest step in this direction—the Family Allowance—was quickly brought into practical 9hape, and in its first year of operation carried £37,514 into the homes of the workers. This Act, which fairly represents the sympathetic view which Mr. Coates has always taken in respect of the struggles of the family man ' I i ' ————• and his wife in poor or restricted circumstances, assures an allowance of 2/- per week for each child in excess of IT* , T _.u.n. two, where the average weekly income of Humanitarian the parents does not exceed £4> * f . • During the 16 years of Reform Achievements I Administration, Old Age Pensions have been increased and conditions of the Aged and, Widows ameliorated in a variety of ways. Here are some of the changes showing the generous improvements:—

t«-day is actually lower than it was in 1914. This outstanding fact is clearly proved by the figures given below'(on a comparable basis):— Public Debt' Charges Social Service (Health and Hospitals, Pensions and Education) Defence (Land and Sea) General and Administrative Charges Surplus for Year 1913-14 £1 17 3 1927-28 £8 26, £8 0 7 Note in the above P~v.-~ s ihe gratifying fact that general and administrative charges (that is, the cost of Government) are lower to-day by over ten shillings per head of population than in 1914. Note also that the only increase in cost has been for Social Services for the benefit of the people. What better evidence could there be of sound, capable humanitarian policy and administration? In one of the most difficult periods of its history, when a world depression was N affecting the "finances of all Nations, the Coates Government was able once more to show a surplus on the year's accounts. During the same period practically all the Governments of Australia showed deficits. Sound finance is not a catch-cry with the Coates Government. It is a fact. THE COATES GOVERNMENT HAS GOT THINGS DONE. I HE Coates Government has made steady and successful efforts towards- * , affecting ..-.economy in Departmental Administration. Annual'appropriations fqr the year 1928 were £240,000 below the amount estimated for. There was also a considerable decrease in expenditure as compared v/ith the preceding year. The decrease in Departmental expenses is the result of continuous and rigid supervision over practically every item of expenditure subject to administrative control. Sound economies of this nature benefit all classes. They are- not showy and spectacular, but they are important t* tawpayers and are evidence of careful and able '"■ ■ administration. a O' ' £ Many Departmental reforms have A Or a been introduced. Modern methods of Q. r accountancy have been adopted throughUarter Ot a out t { le Departments of State, and comft/fillian On mercial balance-sheets are now produced annually for all State activities. Exp6ftS€Sl Steps have also been taken to ensure & that all stores are accounted for in the same manner as cash, and a Stores Control Board has been set us to arrange for the purchase of supplies in bulk. , ' Where the nature of the Service permits of it, every effort has been made to make Services self-supporting, and no opportunity w lost of introducing .better methods, eliminating waste, and preventing extravagance. ; Experience has shown that in a very large organization like the Public Service, true economy is not attained by spectacular reforms, but by continual and gradual improvements, and this is the course that is beinj* followed successfully. • > The Departments have now attained a high degree of efficiency and are in a position that ensures good service to the country. THE COATES GOVERNMENT HAS GOT THINGS DONE. : ARMING Legislation of outstanding importance has been achieved by the Coates Government. Crown Lands Purchase on favourable terms of amortization has been arranged with a State advance amounting to 95%; right to obtain freehold granted to tenants of National Endowment Lands (617,000 acres-and affecting 1,379 settlers); right to acquire fee simple to owners of Renewable Leases of Lands not in the National;Endowment. Special Legislation has been passed to facilitate the cutting up of large estates under a system of group settlement financed by the Government. Under this scheme not only is provision made for breaking up large holdings, but those desiring to get on the land can do so under conditions most favourable to their future success as farmers. By the Rural Advances Act (1926) advances up to £5,500 (exclusive of moneys advanced under the State Advances Amendment Act, 1926) were made possible, .and private investment directed towards farm mortgages. The Intermediate Credit Act provides additional credit facilities at the lowest rate of interest. Subsidies and giutrantees to the Pork, Poultry, Fruit and Honey Industries, and a subsidy of £B,OOO towards Herd Testing. A valuable measure (1926) conferred on the Minister for Agriculture additional powers for swamp drainagei Wide legislation to encourage individual ownership. Old system of purr nnrfnnf- chase of Crown Lands has been superIflipOrlunZ seded; now purchaseable under more Aarlmiltiivnl attractive conditions on amortization in SigriLUUUrui 341 years (1926). Right of re-valuati»« I Affiliation. ' to occupants of Crown Grazing Runs awl S . Settlement Lands (1927). Wheat Industry was safeguarded ■■' '"' under the General Tariff Revision ( 1927), a sliding scale of tariff according to the world market price of wheat being agreed upon. Advantageous Acts dealing with Fertilizers, Fungicides, Insecticides, Noxious Weeds, Seeds, Slaughter and. Inspection and Stock have become law. . In addition, special consideration, has been given' to the interest* •t soldier-settlers, re-valuations of their properties and remission of interests, relieving them of hardship. The Coates Government forced this problem boldly, doing justice to the men even though the loss ran into several million pounds. ~ ~ In the three years 1926-192 7-1928 the State Advances to Farmers, -Workers and Local Bodies have broken all records. The total advance* at low rates of interest during that period amounted to the large sum *f £15,312,195. The amount advanced to settlers was nearly £9,OOO;O##. To this has to bn added over £1,000,000 advanced from April, 1917, to August, 1928, under the Rural Credits Scheme arid monies n«w keiaf advanced under the Intermediate Credit Act. THE COATES GOVERNMENT HAS GOT THINGS DOME. # f

Amount allowed. 1912 Amount allowed. 1928 Old A*e Pensions— 1912 .'928 Reduction of tke pensionable age for women from 65 to 60 years ..... £26 £45/10/-\ Widow*' Pension*— With one child under 15 £l2 £52 Allowance for each additional child .... £6 £26 Limitation of Pensions for Widows .... .... £3O £2OB Family Allowances—2/- per week for each child in excess of two. Income including allowance not to exceed £4 £5/4/—. . per week plus 2/- for each child in excess of per child two. per annum. A beneficent and statesmanlike Act has been passed by the, Coates Government for the protection of the public .ag&inst risks associated with motor accidents. This Act provides a system of compulsory insurance under which all motorists at a trifling cost are placed in a position to pay compensation to those who may suffer injury through motor accidents. During the past three years the Coates Government has shown its practical sympathy with the workers by making advances to the extent of nearly six and a half million pounds to enable them to buy their own homes. Think of it; over six millions advanced to workers on cheap and easy terms-I—nearly 1 —nearly double the amount advanced by any previous Government in the same time. The Child Welfare legislation of the Government, and legislation for the better treatment of the mentally defective, , are other outstanding achievements. THE COATES GOVERNMENT HAS GOT THINGS DONE. j Post and Telegraph :_ D .. 1 T-l L • L_ 1 I 11 as it has been sound. All over the country services have been improved and the public afforded greater facilities. The work of the Department has been placed on a 3ound business basis with commercial accounting in all Departments. The receipts of the Post and Telegraph Department advanced from £2,889,450 (1925) to £3,329,5 I I (1926) D M ~-A —an increase of £530,061. Payments, BUSineSSllke and which in ]925 stood, at-£2,4 I 6,257, were Profitable r f™f, 2 T '£ in 192I 92 . 8 ' »*>««.«. , or xj310,400 to the Uountry s advantage. Management! ~,Tk e ,- BUrpluß ' Y hich in L 925 was • £473,193, increased to £1,029,940 in 1928, a difference of £656,747, due to sound and businesslike Administration. During 16 years the Reform Government has erected new Post Offices on an average of one every three weeks. Telephone Stations in 1925 amounted to 1 15,549. These have been largely extended, and in 1927 numbered 132,089. The number of Depositors in the Post Office Savings Ban!; is 804,725, with a Deposit Total of £47,758,73*6. THE COATES GOVERNMENT HAS GOT THINGS DONE. IHE Scientific and Industrial Research Department was established by Act in 1926 to work in co-operation with the Minister-for Agriculture. It has already rendered valuable assistance to the primary producers in the control of noxious weeds, assessing the nutritive value of pastures, values of top dressing, seed and plant breeding, selection and disease control and the developing of new processes for the better utilisation of by-products in the meat industry. Much help has been given to the flax industry. The Massey Agricultural College Act was passed in 1926, enabling Degrees in Agriculture to be obtained. » / • c • Authority for an annual grant of Appling ZiCienCe £3,700 for Research purposes, approved f. Q by the Minister for Agriculture, was sanctioned iu connection with Canterbury Evefyday Lift! Agricultural College in an Act passed in " * 1927. The Institute of Horticulture Act (1927) was legislated to encourage ■"■""■■-■■■»■■• mmmmm ■■ mmmmm Horticulture and Scientists to undertake further study in Horticulture, Medical Research in connection with the Health of the Nation has received much impetus from the helpful attitude of the Coates Government. Investigations into Endemic Goitre, Infantile Paralysis, Hay Fever, Still Births and the first month mortality of infants, have been carried out. Preventative measures for certain diseases have been made the duties of Medical Officers of Health and School Medical Officers. The Child Welfare Department has won the praise of practically the whole world. - THE COATES GOVERNMENT HAS GOT THINGS DONE. Finance and Taxation THE Coates Administration has maintained the National Finances of tht country on a sound basis that has won the approbation of the London financiers and established the credit of New Zealand on an equality with that of the Mother Country with all her vast resources. The £5,000;000 loan raised this year was subscribed six-fold and quoted at a premium within a day of flotation. The Public Debt of the Country has received great consideration, particularly that part of the Debt that is unproductive. Realising that it is the«unproductive debt which handicaps mmmm »""■"■"■•'" a nation, the Coates Administration has redeemed this portion of the Public Debt w • 1 . bv £6,854.039 in three years. The War Llgnter D " ebt has been reduced by £3,000,54 I, the Taxation than Government having redeemed the War tJond;? and otock tailing due or coming Australia ! * nto tne °P en market. In 1926 Taxation per head amounted to £l2 7s. lid.; in 1927 it was £l2 ss. 6d.; and in 1928 it has reached the comparatively lower level of £1 1 1 7s. 7d. The latest figures available show that the Taxation per head in Australia is £l4 ss. per head, New Zealand being 16.6% lighter taxed than her immediate neighbour, who is mainly under Labour Administration. Here is a most significant fact and one which has not been clearly understood or properly appreciated. If the charges arising out of our War obligations are excluded the taxation per head of the population Lighter Taxation than Australia !