“LET COUNTRY DOWN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 964, 6 May 1930, Page 7

“LET COUNTRY DOWN”

united and labour PARTIES ASSAILED HR. COATES ENTERS CONTEST “The United Party has let this country down. Had Reform been In office land settlement and development of idle lands would have 4 een miles ahead.” Thus the Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Reform Party, in a spirited address in the interests of the Reform candidate for the Parnell seat, before 3 packed house in the Tudor Theatre, Re mu era, last evening. The Leader of the Opposition was given a most enthusiastic reception by a crowded theatre. Many hundreds outside, who, unable to obtain admission, packed the corridors and overflowed across the street, where they listened to his address through loud-speakers. Mr. Coates’s speech was singularly free from interjections, although the übiquitous “Shorty” had an occasional ‘chip” or two. On entering the hall

jjr. Coates was enthusiastically cheered and applauded. He was supported by Messrs. J. A. Young, A. Harris and A. M. Samuel. M.P.’s, and Messrs. W p £ndean, IT. R. Jenkins. J. s. Hickson and the Hon. E. Mitchelson. -It is heartening and encouraging to find I have many friends, more than ever, I believe, in New Zealand today,” remarked Mr. Coates, in expressing deep appreciation of his reception. Mr Coates proceeded to praies the attitude of Mr. H. R. Jenkins, who resigned from the Parnell seat and. who, in the speaker's opinion, had acted the man and displayed the characteristics all admired when, on finding himself in an uncongenial position and desiring to be honest with his constituents, took the course few would have chosen of placing himself in the hands of the electors.

The allusion to the visit of the Hon G. W. Forbes to the Kaipara electorate during the by-election campaign vaa mentioned by Mr. Coates, who confessed to having invited and pressed the Minister of Lands several times to inspect the district so that he could be shown the opportunities for developing lands. Mr. Coates expressed his pleasure the Minister had made the trip, though it was at an awkward time. “In bidding for this seat,” said Mr. Coates, “the Labour Party is making a light and has brought the ‘big guns’ into action. Mr. Holland, however, is merely playing with words when he says that socialisation of production, distribution and exchange are not planks of the party.” “He never said that.” protested a front row voice. Year after year. continued Mr. Coates, Labour’s policy had been announced as advocating State development, State farms, State factories and State banks, which, he claimed were all planks working toward socialisation of production, distribution and exchange, u system entirely opposed to Reform’s policy. In recent years the Labour Party had endeavoured to water down lind minimise the objective by means r>f the planks submitted to the public. Mr. Coates added that every candidate d£ the Labour Party had to sign a pledge to support the party’s objects Hnd that he would faithfully adhere to them and work for socialisation. WithDut being unfair, Mr. Coates suggested It would be better and fairer to everybody if the party published a copy of the document a candidate had to sign before becoming an official representative. - BROKEN PROMISES

Trenchant criticism was levelled by Mr. Coates at the United Party’s failure to honour the promises it made on the eve of last election. The Government had issued a platform and manifesto providing for the borrowing of £70.000,000. reduction in taxation and

no more unemployment. “You promised the same in May, 1926,” came a voice from above, amid laughter. Mr. Coates: We have never made any extravagant promises to the people. Further interruptions from the gallery were checked by an unceremonious “shut up” from below. Describing the promise to borrow money at 4\ per cent, as rash, Mr. Coates said the public had expected this undertaking to be honoured. “Has the Government given performance to that pledge?” he demanded. A Voice: Neither did you. You are both in the same box. “A man who makes public utterances must be prepared to make some attempt to give effect to his promises,” Mr. Coates continued. The Reform Party had declared at the last election it depended upon the money market throughout the world whether the money could be raised at per cent., and particularly the state of the market in Great Britain. It would have been better and fairer if the people bod not been misled at the last election, but they swallowed the £70.000.000 hook, bait, line and sinker. The increase in taxation was next

touched upon by Mr. Coates, who pointed out that in the financial year j«st ended the revenue was £1,250,000 in excess of the previous year. Customs duties, including primage, had i&creased by £1,000,000, so there was no reason for the Government to make a groat story about the surplus. Proceeding to refer to the promise, which bad not been honoured, to increase land settlement, he pointed out the Government had spent £600,000 in acquiring private estates, of which £500,000 worth had been offered for settlement and on which about 154 men had been established. which worked out at about £4,000 a settler for the land alone. “Has the Government found the solution for unemployment?” aii’.ed Mr. Coates, in dealing with this problem. A Voice (dolefully): No. “There is more unemployment now than when Reform left office,” Mr. Coates asserted, his statement being greeted with coughs and laughter. The speaker continued that the United Thirty had promised to find work for everyone— WAGES AND REFORM ‘ You only paid 9s and 12s, Gordon,” interpolated a voice. “It should never be interpreted, as it has been, that Reform was out to reduce wages,” came back Mr. Coates. That may be fine political talk, but it's not honest and fair. With the Reform Party wages were secure. He s aid it was agreed that some of the men on relief works were not earning good wages, but at the same time cases where men were earning 16s and 18s •i day were never mentioned. Because he and others had the courage of their •onvictions concerning unemployment k Was interpreted that Reform wanted 10 cut down wages, which was not the case.

“If the United Party had been able to borrow £70,000,000 in ten years. Mr. Coates, “it would have been ‘look out:’” After setting in motion the reconstruction, such as repatriation. soldier settlement and hydroelectric schemes after the war. the Reform Party realised the cul-de-sac k was running into, and it was impossible to go ahead borrowing at the • s aino rate. There was a clear indication against extravagant borrowing.

A Voice: You do admit you were ex travagant then?” “UPSET THE APPLECART”

u ‘I will admit,” retorted Mr. Coates, that for every penny spent on public 'vorks there was an argument on commercial lines." He pointed out that in -1926 £11,000,000 was borrowed and the following rear the amount was re♦kieed to £7,000,000. Reform’s plan Was that New Zealand should live on ts own resources if possible, to attain Position of self-reliance, without niggardly. “We were successin bringing borrowing down, but

the new policy oC £70,000.000 took the people oft their feet and upset the political applecart,” added Mr. Coates. MORNINGSIDE TUNNEL The United Party's railway construction policy was discussed by Mr. Coates, who referred particularly to the abandonment of the Morningside Tunnel project. The site of the new Auckland station, he said, had been decided on after ascertaining that suburban traffic could obtain ingress to and egress from the City, and if the scheme was jettisoned the whole policy of placing the station would be open to review. It was too late now, however, and there was nothing left but to carry the railway through the City to the, North. No alternative proposal to the Morningside tunnel scheme had been advanced, and he believed the Minister must revert to the central route advocated in 1926. The engineers had shown the Morningside tunnel to be justified and expectations of an 8 per cent, interest on its undertaking. He considered every railway in New Zealand today should be open to the closest investigation. Mr. Coates declared himself in favour of the South Island main trunk line construction if it could be justified on a commercial basis. He asserted that the Reform Party would halt the Midland line until the effect of the earthquakes on the land between Inangaliua and Murchison had been seen. •

The cost of road construction in North Auckland was mentioned by Mr. Coates, who wanted to know if the Lion. E. A. Ransom had not changed his opinion concerning the cost of making roads in the North, and also whether some of the routes being carried out by the Highways Board were not costing £16,000 a mile.

Mr. Coates commended the Reform Government’s group settlement scheme and also the plan to induce workers to take up small holdings. 1-Ie was quite convinced, he said, that 1,000 families could be settled in the country districts On properties.

Reform’s policy, Mr. Coates asserted, was the development of idle lands, and he expressed his conviction that it would pay the country to develop the pumice lands of the Taupo Plains. The breaking in of the land could employ a number of men and interest payments would be small, say, over 50 years.

The land taxation legislation adopted last year, Mr. Coates said, affected every farmer, as it attacked his equity. Reform had urged classification of lands for taxation purposes, contending that if the properties were not fit for closer settlement they should not be taxed.

The anomalous situation was pointed out by the speaker, who said that in the Kiwitea County the unimproved value of the land was £2 a sheep, but in other parts of New Zealand, particularly in Canterbury, the value ranged from £ 6 to £l3 a sheep. In indicting the United Party for failing to honour its pledge to reduce the cost of living, Mr. Coates said it had been increased by the primage duty, for which the Labour Party must accept responsibility, because it not only supported this measure but placed the ‘Government in power.

“We have a Government without responsibility,” declared Mr. Coates, in asserting that the Labour Party dominated the Government.

“That’s questionable,” declared an interjector.

“I’m quoting real facts, and if this electorate doesn’t desire that state of affairs to continue, there is only one candidate you can support.” He claimed that both outside and inside the House Reform was still the dominant party and a force to be reckoned with as it had earned respect with its honest and straightforward policy.

The importance of manufacturing industries as a factor in increasing production was stressed by Mr. Coates. Ho contended, however, that if the individual output was to be advanced the manufacturing industries would necessarily have to be overhauled to ensure the most modern plant and latest methods were used. He also advocated the principle of payment by results, and co-operation. He did not favour protective tariffs ad lib, he said. A Voice: Y'ou are riding the wrong horse!

Mr. Coates: “I am riding the only horse that can possibly win.” He added that the system of payment by results gave elbow room to men to develop his own initiative.

A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded Mr. Coates amid applause.