PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 242, 13 October 1925, Page 9

PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR.

SPEECH AT INVERCARGHX. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Monday. Mc Prime Minister, the Hon. J a Coates, continued his Southern J Invercargill to-night, when he Was gwen a great reception hy an audience wnich was thoroughly representative of tto province. The Mayor, Mr. Andrew Bain, welcomed the Prime Minister and congratulated Mr. Coates on obtaining Wβ highest position in the land at so young an age. On rising to speak, the Premier was greeted with cheers, and he thanked the audience for their splendid reception. "Within the last ten years," *ald the Premier, "it has been alleged against us that much of the increased cost of administration was due to extravagance on the part of the Government. Those bringing that charge never fairly state the situation, and°if the facts are properly analysed it will be ieen that there is really very little to complain of when the heavy charges necessitated by the war are taken into account." Dealing with taxation. Mr. Coates said that without the application of control over expenditure and the check on spending power created during the war, the Government could not have carried out a taxation reduction policy. However much it fell short of what some people would like, from 1920-21 the direct taxation in New Zealand was £10 14/3, and indirect £7 0/1 per head, a total of £17 14/4. In 1924-25 direct taxation per capita was £5 17/1, and indirect £8 6/4, or a total of £12 3/5, which represented a reduction of £5 10/11 per capita. It must not be overlooked that the 1925 figure for indirect taxation included 5/6 on account of the tyre tax and motor registration fees, applied directly to the maintenance of main highways. Part of this 5/6 was purely a nominal increase, in that motor registration fees were formerly collected by local authorities. So far as general purposes were concerned the reduction in taxation daring the last four years was £5 16/5. At the conclusion of Mr. Coates' speech, a vote of thanks and confidence was carried by an. overwhelming majority. PREMIER COMING NORTH. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! DARGAVILLE, this day. The first meeting of the Hon. J. G. Coates' election committee, held last night, unanimously passed 8. resolution, expressing continued confidence in Mr. Coates as member for Kaipara, and determination to place him at the top of the poll with, a record majority for the Dominion. Mr. Coates arrives at Dargaville on Saturday afternoon next tnd will be accorded a civic welcome and address.