'FAIR-WEATHER FRIENDS'

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1931, Page 8

'FAIR-WEATHER FRIENDS'

PRIME MINISTER AT ELTHAM.

INDEPENDENTS' ATTITUDE

LIKE TO BE ON WINNING SIDE,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

ELTHAM, Thursday.

After being given a civic reception, the Prime Minister, tlie Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, addressed a large meeting at Elthain this' evening.' The Town Hall was crowded. Mr. Foribes spoke for an hour and a half and was accorded an excellent reception throughout. v • Mr. , Forbes received an ovation on entering the, hall, and at. the conclusion of the speech a hearty vote of thank?, moved by Dr. T. H. yalintiiie, was carried by acclamation. There were a few interjections, 'but these -Mr.' Forbes quickly disposed of in good-humoural fashion. ; • : "'" ■> ; In the course of his;speech, he alluded to. the Independents. "We ;hear," he said, "a lot about this party of Independents. Everyone is running along his own lines'. My. experience, in the House is the same'as Disraeil's when'he said, 'An Independent member is a, member on whom you can place no dependence.'" Mr. Forbes added that if there was any. chance of losing, the Independents liked to be on the other side, and lie said he had no time for fair-weather friends. .... Alluding to the 10 per ccnt cut, ne said this was imposed on the employees of the "New Zealand Worker." So much for the Labour party's sincerity in its opposition in the House to the imposition of the cut. ' " ' , .

ADDRESS AT NEW PLYMOUTH

CREDIT, OF NEW ZEALAND,

(By -Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday,

The Prime,- Minister ' addressed; a crowded; audience in the Opera House this afternoon: He received a fairly attentive hearing, but . a rowdy element was present and there were a number of interjections. A vote' of thanks arid confidence was carried, followed by count-ing-out arid cheers.

Mr. Forbes , traversed the economy policy .of the Government and spoke of the need to uphold the Dominion's credit by sound administration. He criticised the policy of Labour, which, he said would inevitably lead to a breakdown of the country's finance. He expressed confidence that the great bulk of thinking people would place their trust, in the soundness of the Coalition Government.