PEGGING AWAY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18526, 30 October 1925, Page 10

PEGGING AWAY.

PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR. CRITICISM REFUTED. (sm:cial to "the razss.") NAPIER ? October 20. Hundreds of people who desired to hear the I'rime Minister at Hastings and at Napier to-night were unable to do so, ;;s the halls were not nearly big enough to hold all who tried to get in. At Hastings Mr Coates was received Avitli tremendous enthusiasm, and a vote of confidence v.as carried almost unanimously. Mr Coates was accompanied on the platform by Mr 11. M. Campbell, the Government candidate for tho Ilawke's Bay scat, and the chairman's table was draped appropriately ivllli the Campbell of Amyie tarU.n. At Napier hundreds were waiting outside the hall when the Prime Minister's car drew up. The police cleared a track, and the party entered the hall to find it packed in nil three floors, also tho stage and tho boxes. A small number of Labour interjeetors were [-resent, but. the Prime Minister disposed of them without, difficulty. A resolution of confidence was moved by Mr J). J. Dola.n in a striking speech, and it was passed with few dissentients amidst a scene of great enthusiasm. Not Built That Way. "When Mr Coates was talking about some of the State Departments paying their way, one of the audience interjected: "At the expense of the employees." Mr Coates: Oh, no, I am not built that way. I take it you are referring to the cut. The interrupter: That's right. Mr Coates: Then you take up the attitude that you are the onjy people in this country at the time of tho slump who should not have suffered. (Loud applause.) The interrupter: You mad.e the wives and kicls suffer. Mr Coates: No, and now we propose to look after them in the future, and what we want is something done in the future and less talk about the past. Business Management. "They say what you want is • business men to manage, the country," said Mr Coates. "Well, lam not "going to give way to any of your business men. The true test is result. All the talk under the sun will not alter results. Not. so very long.ago they wanted to fuse with this Crowd whom they now say clon't know how to run the country. Ib is no use jumping from this side 1 over to that side just as it suits you. Nationalist Absurdities. '•'My Nationalist friends who are criticising the Government which not so long ago they thought good enough to join up with, say that they would prosecute railway works, hydro-electric works, school buildings in the backblocks, roading facilities, and land settlement schemes, but at the sain© time they say it is time a.halt was called. They arc going to get the money. 1 don't know where. (Laughter.) What is the use of talking about calling a halt. Yon want a million fi year for hydro-electric works, and it seems to me it is a matter of- great importance to you to make sure you have men who see clearly the developmental work that is necessary to meet the future of the country. "However, I am going to pay this compliment to my Nationalist friends, that thoy did me.the credit of copying word for word my Public Works policy into- thei: policy. I agree with them that the Minister of Public "Works knows, what ought to be. done. "In regard to our railway policy, would thev be able to carry on our construction works without "money? "Tho Government have put a clearly defined polic- before you. Have these gentlemen who criticise the Government any defined policy? , How Could Tliey Do It? ''' Ho iv would they carry on telephone extension without borrowing. This is a job you want nearly a million "a year for. And let me tell you that not one of these works the Government propose to proceed with will be a charge on the taxpayer at all. They will pay in-* terest. So long as you feel that the money is being put "into theso works without political consideration, and purely for the good of New Zealand, you have nothing to fear. And in addition, you know -" 0 u are laying the foundation of a country which "will give good reading facilities, good railway facilities, have electric power right through the land, and be an attraction to people of all portions of the Empire. When you have a Party that has a clear conception of what is required, surely it is the safer course to trust and "support it, than to heed this 'nebulous halt, and do work without money' talk." • - . J