PRIME MINISTER HECKLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 255, 27 October 1928, Page 12

PRIME MINISTER HECKLED.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. LIVELY HELENSVILLE MEETING. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HELEN SVILLE, this day. "Look here, you're the most ignorant man I have ever met," said the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, to an interjeetor last evening. Criticism from Labour interjectors made the meeting a lively one, much to the enjoyment of the audience. The volley of Are began when the Prime Minister was speaking of the Government's difficulty in dealing with the unemployment problem. He said he abhorred the dole, and was heckled by a man who called out "Unemployment iitsuirancef" with suggestions that it should prove a remedy. "Leave him alone; I like this," said Mr. Coates, when the chairman, Mr. J. Mackie, chairman of the Helensville Town Board, wished to call the man to order. "I have got him. We will talk unemployment insurance." Mr. Coates then entered into a brief argument about conditions in Queensland, He said that the cost of unemployment insurance in New Zealand would be £300,000.a year, and contributions would be required from both workers and employees. The fullest investigations would have to be made before introducing the scheme in the Dominion.

Mr. Coates said he would answer some statements made by Mr. Holland, Leader of the Labour party, when another interjeetor said: "Leave him alone; he is not here. You must be frightened of him."

Mr. Coates: You have not been able to bring out the man I am frightened of.

"Well, give us something about yourself.

"I have. You couldn't find anything better to talk about." °

_ Continuing, Mr. Coates asked a persistent interjector: "Are you a Communist?"

A Voice: That's my business. Mr. Coates: Well, you're not badlooking. I'd like to have a talk with you, but of course, it's useless if you're a Communist. (Laughter.) Mentioning that the Government was pushing on the railway and public works schemes, the Prime Minister was challenged that the wages were only "nine bob and twelve bob a day." He replied: Tell me of one single instance of a man employed anywhere on railway or hydro-electric work at only nine or twelve shillings a day. You cannot. You are the sort of individual who is a danger to the community."