PRIME MINISTER.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19460, 6 November 1928, Page 10

PRIME MINISTER.

TALK WITH ME MASTERS.

MERRY MEETING AT STRATFORD

[THfI PBBS& Special Service.]

STBATFORD, No%'ember 5. The Prime Minister set himself a great test to-night, when in the home town of Mr It. Masters chairman of the United Party, and the centre of Mr Masters's stronghold, when Mr Masters was a Parliamentarian, he brought him out of the audience and gave him a seat on the platform while he replied to the speech which Mr Masters made in Invercargill in support of the United Party. It was a mixed audience that Mr Coates had to face. Every doorway was crowded, and there were large numbers who listened to him outside the windows. Mr Coates was given a very attentive hearing while he dealt with the Government's activities and policy, but he was subjected to inter* jections, whioh he took up and used effectively, when he was criticising the United'B policy. That he received such a good hearing Was a tribute to his personality. Even the interjectors laughed when he scored off them. Mr Coates was introduced by the Mayor, Mr J. W. Maomillan, who congratulated him on haying brought the Country through a difficult period, and paid him the compliment of Btatlng that he was a worthy successor to New Zea* land's greatest statesman, Mr Massey. (Applause.) Mr Coates led off by taking up some interjections indicative of local rivalry between the twins of Eltham and Stratford, and then proceeded on lines of previous addresses. "What about dairy control and Sterling?" called a high-pltdhed voice from the darkness outside. "Come inside and get the light," the Prime Minister replied. "I never did care much for the sniper's job." A voice: It is almost as bad as catching votes. «*,,+. t The Prime Minister: Well) I do not want to catch any votes that cannot b given conscientiously. A voice: Well, you '*6 n't get many Mr Coates: Of course, one catt't deal with people who don't want to understand. - • The Prime Minister was given an attentive and uninterrupted hearing while he discussed the Government's deeds, and dealt with criticisms levelled at the administration. Interruptions came when he proceeded to deal with the United Party's proposal to borrow £70,000,000. "They say they are going to do that without adding a penny piece in taxation," the Prime Minister said. ± A voice: That is the way to get it. The Prime. Minister: I agree, but when the rates of interest and the relending rate are considered, as Well as the flotation charges, there will be a loss of about « 3,000,000, ■

A voice: Ask poor old Joey. Tin/Prime Minister again made reference to Sir Joseph Ward's illness, stating that no one sympathised with him mere than he did. He knew Si? Joseph as a great old War horse. He would like to be in ,the fight. A voice: He will come back. The Prime Ministers It is Vef£ hafd to come again. Deinpsey tried it! ..;.■ "Mr Masters said he was an admirer of my war record," Mr Coates said. "I don't want him to be, for there are thousands Who haviß a betted pne> and that is not forgetting those who tried their hardest, to got aWay and could net. . . . Mr Masters is down there, standing at the back," Mr Codtes said. "I don't like to see a nhaifmah standing. Come along up- here."

"Do you want me?" asked Mr Masters.

"Yes, come on up here and sit down."

There was lnud applause as Mr Masters went up to the stage, fend the Prime Minister shook hands with hiffl< "It is much more ploalant to have him up here," he said. Mr Coates then' to6k' Mr Master's speech in Invercargill, and wenj; through it point by point. "Mr Masters said that he is a judge of men, and that what is wrong with me is my in* capacity. (Laughter.) "Well, he is only one man, expressing one man's opinion. Would it not he fair to stig» gest that he was judged by more than one man in (Laughter 1 and applause.) A voice: Yott will be in 1598. The, Prime Minister: Therd goes my cheerful friend again! (Laughter.)

Mr Coates referred to Mr Masters's statement with regard to the <36iistfue* tion of the railway station dfidtSrmiri&l facilities at Auckland. "I wonder if he had been talking to ill} Auckland audience, woiild be have Suggested that these works arc) not justified f "Mr Coates asked. "What he really meats is that the Government is not justified in operating the Bailway Improvement Account." A voice: He does not say that. The Prime Minister: He infers that. He might as well say that we ehdUld not build a new Station at Wellington. We are going to build it, and we are going on improving the graded and curves, the signals, and we ate finishing our workshops reorganisation. The Prime Minister referred to the report of the Pay'fiaven Conihussion, and. said that the Commission had hardly altered the proposals he had inade in regard to railway improvements, and which had been demanded by the railwaymen fdf years. The Scheme which had been adopted was not- extravagant, and the money had been well invested. Mr Coates then dealt with the critic cism of Mr Masters concerning ta*a». tion, quoting returns to show that Customs taxation per head had deCrfiaSSdj while income taxation had gone up in« stead of the reverse, as Had been suggested by Mr Masters. After dealing with the land (settlement policy, Mf Coates said the Government, by its record, was entitled to a return to office. A Motion of thanks and confidence was seconded by a lady, whd said that after the last election two navvies had discussed the situation. One said: "We have had a Dick, a Joey, and a Bill, btlt What the Hell are we going to do with a Gordon!" "He . has shown us what he can do," the iady said, "and I think We should keep hitn in power." The motion was carried with a largfi majority, although the chairman appeared to be a little too quick for some of the audieftcd at thd back, wht) voiced their disapproval. ' . Early in the d«*y the Prime Minister addressed an er tausiastio meeting at Ingl wood, whufe he Was given a unanimous vote of thinks and confidence. ;