MR. COATES IN NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 277, 23 November 1931, Page 11

MR. COATES IN NORTH.

!ATTACK ON COUNTRY PARTY, i REFERENCE TO « PETROL STORY." WHEAT DUTIES DEFENDED. (By Telegraph.—Oivn Correspondent.) VTHAXGAREI, this day. Two well-attended and enthusiastic meetings were addressed by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates in the Bar of Islands electorate on Saturday. Despite heavy rain ].5O electors waited two hours at Broadwood for Mr. Coates,. who came north by aeroplane., and was delayed owing to Captain Hewitt having difficulty in finding a landing place. In the evening at Ohaeawai ISO electors gave the co-Leader of the Coalition Government a splendid hearing. In both addresses he followed the lines of his previous speeches. Dealing with the Country party Mr. Coates asked for some advice as to what was its policy. He said it was exceedingly difficult to rind out, as sometimes it was Empire free trade, sometimes preference, sometimes international free trade. In the face of the 12.000,000 : votes in favour of tariffs in the Mother j Country, he expressed the opinion it was madness to experiment. Revenue to-day Avas the prime concern of Xew Zealand.

"Let Uβ get past our immediate difficulties by co-operation in Xew Zealand," he said, ••and with the Old Country square our yard, balance our Budget, and keep our credit high."

Referring to derating he mentioned the recent- arrangement made by the Government to find £250,000' rebate, which was described by the Country party candidate as an "election gag," in face of the fact that, despite increased taxation, revenue was decreasing. Mr. Coates made reference to what he termed the "petrol story"'being told by tho Country party candidate, Mr. H. M. Rushworth, who was stating that derating had been placed within the grasp of the Coalition Government and had been shelved. The position was. that an oil company operating in Xew Zealand, with only one tank, had suggested that if it were protected against pricecutting it would sell at 2d cheaper than current price and pay a tax of 1/ per gallon to the Government. If such an offer had been made he doubted if the company was able to carry out its share of the contract —but no such offer had been made. Accountants were now engaged in investigating petrol charges and as soon as anything of real value was available no effort would be spared in clearing up the position, and petrol consumers and ratepayers would gain the advantages. Mr. Coates said he had also been advised that wheat duties were being dealt with in terms which left a doubt in the minds of electors. He was in favour of some incentive to grow wheat in Xew! Zealand. Wheat duties were to be reduced by 1/1 per bushel in February next. He avos quite prepared to leave the question to thp House, but with an unemployment problem of 50,000 it did not seem a reasonable proposition to cut out all wheat duties and increase unemployment, by 10.000.