MR. COATES IN SOUTHLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 250, 22 October 1928, Page 3

MR. COATES IN SOUTHLAND.

RETURNING NORTH TO-DAY.

ADDRESS AT OTAUTAU. '

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

INVERCARGILL, Sunday.

The Prime Minister's campaign in Southland ended last' night with an address to a crowded meeting at Otautau.

Referring to the efforts of thp Government to assist the unemployed, Mr. Coates stated that 10,000 men had been employed on public works for which the normal requirement was COOO.

Mr. Coates was asked what possibility there was of raising the tariff on imported timber, in order to improve local trade. He said that since the last increase in the tariff the quantity of timber imported had shown a tremendous fall, but the demand had also shown a fall, as a direct result of the depression. What must be done was to produce goods in the form and of the quality to compete with imported timber.

Referring to the railway construction programme, the Prime Minister said that in 1924 he had set out to hand over 280 miles of railway within four years. At the end of last financial year the position wns that 123 miles had been handed over, 47 miles would be ready to hand over in three months, and 19 miles within six months, while 91 miles would be in operation by the Public Works Department.

The Prime Minister was accorded a unanimous vote of confidence. With Mrs. Coates, he left to-day en route for Dargaville, where he will speak oil Wednesday evening.