SEVERELY HECKLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 261, 3 November 1928, Page 12

SEVERELY HECKLED.

MR. COATES AT TE AWAMUTU

CHAIRMAN APPEALS FOR A FAIR HEARING.

XO QUESTIONS ALLOWED

(By Telegraph. —Own Cor.espondent.» TE AWAMUTU, this day.

The Prime Minister was subjected t. continuous heckling and interruption when he addressed a record crowd ii the Empire Theatre last evening. H<was below his usual form, his vo:c bein"- very husky owing to a seven cold. Referring to the United party'£70,000.000 loan proposal, Mr. Coateasserted that it was a case of "have >■ good time while it lasts, and then bust. If ten millions was to be used for rail ways and sixty millions for advances to farmers, where was the money coming from for other development works? In view of the importance of hydro-electric works, it was strange that no provision was made in the United platform for their development. Mr. Coates was claiming credit for putting the Main Highways Act and the petrol tax on the Statute Book when a voice interrupted, " Well, why don't you make the railways pay?" Mr. Coates: That is a peculiar twM some fellows have. We give good roads to let you cart your requirements, and then you turn and blame us for not making the railways pay. At this stage there were persistent interjections from all parts of the hall. The interjectors demanded that the Prime Minister make statements on dairy control and daylight saving, but these were ignored, and Mr. Coates went on to deal with native laiids. Again he was interrupted: "'Broady' (Mr. W. .T. Broadfoot, United candidate for Waitomo) pushed you into it," said an elector. Touchin? on agricultural colleges, Mr. Coates claimed credit for their establishment. A Voice: You didn't do that. Mr. Coates: Who did, then? The Interjjctor: Mr. Mas*ey did that. Mr. Coates: He did nothing of the kind. I did it. The Prime Minister went on to say that there was Crown land open for settlement. An Interject or: Where is it? Mr. Coates: Up North, and even in your own district. The Interjector: At Ngaroma? Mr. Coates: Yes, you can have Ngaroma, if you like. Interjections became so ' persistent that the chairman appealed for a fair hearing for the Prime Minister. At the conclusion no questions were allowed, and a vote of thanks and confidence was moved. The chairman ignored an amendment expressing no faith in the present Administration, and declared the motion carried, amid cheering and loud " noes."