REPLY TO REFORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1930, Page 9

REPLY TO REFORM.

MR. ATMORE ON ESTATE

PURCHASES.

Statements by mr, coaxes

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WAIPUKURAU, this day.

The Hon. Harry Atmorc, Minister of Education, addressed over 300 electors in the theatre at Waipawa to-night, the Mayor, Mr. G. Hunt, presiding. Mr. Atmore, who wae given an enthusiasticreception, commenced by paying a tribute to the late Sir George Hunter, whose death was the cause of the byelection. He pointed out that this was tho first time he had visited the district as Minister of Education, and s.iid it had not been the intention of the United party to enter the contest, but certain Reform statements called for replies. Mr. Atmore counselled the electors carefully to weigh the merits r>.f the United and Reform parties, con* tending that there must be iu6re vigorous land settlement to correct the economic depression in the Dominion. After referring at some length to education in New Zealand, the Minister touched on the Kirikopuni loop railway line in North Auckland, contending that the Hon. F. Mandcf had,not told th.u true position, as the cost was not £29,000 per mile, but £77,320. .The length-of the line was two and a half miles, not half a mile, but the total loss on the length o'f 13 miles 56 "chains to Kirikopuni was £1,059,350. Two miles and a half had cost £155,000 according to the official figures. The country through which the line passed was unstable and there was an annual loss of £47,500. The Minister said Mr. Jull's statement with reference to the loop line, was correct according to a return tabled in Parliament. Dealing with the land purchases made by the Reform Government. Mr. Atmore dealt in detail with the Reform purchase in the Motucka district, known as the-Mamia estate, also the Balfour, Kinnear, and Davis estate, of 7383 acres, for returned soldiers, purchased in 1920 and divided into 13 sections, none of which was disposed of by ballot. On the two estates the sum of £58.515 was written off and the total cost to the Dominion was £78,600, whereas the value of the two estates was £19,885, so that the loss to the people was £58,515, plus interest. So much for Reform's economic administration., In closing, the Minister, speaking! without party bias, said ho believed it to be in the best interests of the Dominion to keep in office a Government which was courageous enough to face a diffieult situation boldly. Mr. Jull, the United candidate, also spoke in reply' to Mr. Coates' add/ess at Takapau on September 30, saying that Mr. Coates' personal statements constituted a grave charge, also that they were positively untrue in regard to Mr. Jull's attitude towards the ex,tra petrol tax. In conclusion, Mr. Jull said he was entitled to an apology, as the deliberate statements made against him by Mr. Coates were unjustified and untrue. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the speakers, and also votes of confidence in the candidate of the United party.