COATES ON HIS CRITICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 501, 2 November 1928, Page 12

COATES ON HIS CRITICS

FAIR DEAL FOR MR. HOLLAND THE BALLOT-PAPER BOGEY (From Our Own Correspondent) PUKEKOHE, To-day. “Mr. Holland has had a better and fairer deal than any other Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand,” asserted the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. J. G. Coates, at Pukekoh© last evening. Referring to Mr. Holland’s statement to the effect that Mr. H. H. Sterling's salary was too high, the Prime Minister remarked that it had not been suggested who could be obtained as a substitute. “The responsibility is mine, and the country has made progress in my time. He could make more than he is now.” A Voice: Where? Mr. Coates: In the dairy company. If he has the co-operation of the people he will succeed. The speaker refuted Mr. Holland’s statement that the Prime Minister would give a family allowance of £250,000. What he ha*d said. Mr. Coates went on to say, was that it would take between £200,000 and £230,000 to provide for it, but such would not be undertaken until the country was in a better position. The Licensing Bill and ballot paper printing statement was trickery, Mr. Holland had said. “A country had never had a fairer run than the Bill had,” answered Mr. Coates, “and the chairman of the alliance agrees. Messrs. W. Nosworthy and T. W. Rhodes were paired by me and Labour failed to pair. The only ballot papers being printed applied to restoration. In spite of all

the documentary evidence Mr. Holland says the papers were being printed, but they were not. He may believe it, although I can hardly believe it.”

Borrowing was being curtailed. bu 4 a certain amount was essential in order to complete works. Nobody could suggest one scheipe that should be deleted, claimed the Prime Minister.