THE LAST ROUND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 266, 9 November 1928, Page 12

THE LAST ROUND.

IN ELECTION FIGHT.

PREMIER AT WELLINGTON.

LABOUR IN STRONG FORCE

(By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Thursday

The Prime Minister was very cheerful over constant interruptions at his Wellington Town Hall meeting to-night. The Premier had a friendly audience in the main, but supporters of Labour who got in when the doors were opened to the general public for 15 minutes were very vocal. The Mayor of Wellington, Mr. Troup, reminded the audience that the election fight was in its last round, which is always the most strenuous of the encounter. They would agree that the Prime Minister was a politician who could light hard and fight fair. (Applause.) He could also work hard. (Dissent and applause.)

The Prime Minister, whose voice bore evidence of strenuous electioneering, though be had no difficulty in making himself heard, expressed regret that Wellington had a hall apparently only a quarter large enough to accommodate those who wished to hear him.

"Why didn't you give us a ticket?" demanded a lady.

Mr. Coates: Bad luck if you did not get a ticket.

It soon became evident that Labourites were in strong force. The audiencc listened silently to references to the Country party, and hundreds at the back rose to give three cheers for Holland when the Labour party was mentioned. Mr. Coates laughingly waited for the end of the demonstration. Then he remarked: "Apparently you are all here to-night. It looks as if we are in for a good evening."

The Premier seemed to enjoy any interruption. He almost waited for it, and advised one lively incoherent individual not to get excited. When a piercing voice was heard from the back, the Prime Minister listened a moment, then got his audience roaring with laughter by remarking: "My dear girl, I wish you would speak up. I do like the sound of your voice." He concluded his references to Sir Joseph Ward's borrowing plan with an inquiry as to when the United party was going to explain how it would develop the country any faster.

Election Canards. It was, he said, customary to start canards a few days before an election. The Arapuni scare was an election canard, which had been explained away, not only by independent New Zealand engineers, but by competent authorities in England, Australia and Sweden. Another election canard was that railwaymen were to be dispensed with. He denied it, and he would challenge anyone to prove another allegation that public servants had failed to get their salary increments. A Voice: You are importing coal. "If it is carbonised law temperature process coal you are referring to," retorted Mr. Coates, "any used in New Zealand will be made here and nowhere else." (Applause.) The speech continued amid a running fire of interruptions, mostly lacking force or point, though Mr. Coates assured someone who protested that "it was quite all right—-it gave him a rest." "Take your hands out of your pockets, Gordon," said someone. The Prime Minister promptly used one hand for the more effective emphasis of the point that his pockets were empty. "And if there are many boys like you about," he added, "they will always be empty."

On Familiar Lines. The Premier's speech followed familiar lines. He described the reorganisation of the railways, predicting a definitely successful result in three years, and pictured the Government's efforts to extend dental clinics, child welfare work, and improve the conditions of hospital nurses. When contradicted by a lady, Mr. Coates smilingly assured her that someone had been telling her stories. "She knows what she is talking about," said another lady angrily. "Please don't start fighting amongßt yourselves," advised the Prime Minister, who next got into an altercation with a man who accused the Government of j reducing Post Office Savings Bank interest at the dictation of private banks. The Government, declared Mr. Coates, had done the right thing in line with its policy of making the Post Office the small man's bank. His critic was mixed up with Labour politics and the truth. "What did you promise the 1928 committee?" was an inquiry. Mr. Coates: The same as any other group of citizens in this country—a fair go and no more. A vote of thanks to the Premier and confidence in his administration was moved and carried, as announced by the Mayor, by an overwhelming majority.