PRIME MINISTER.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19466, 13 November 1928, Page 10

PRIME MINISTER.

A LIVELY DAY AT AUCKLAND. BEATING DOWN LABOUR NOISE. [THE PEESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND. November 12. The Prime Minister, Mr Coates, gave a wonderful demonstration of his personality to-night, when he beat down strong vociferous Labour critics at two of his meetings and compelled them to listen to him while he unfolded the Government policy. As fit and as fresh as when he commenced his tour five weeks ago, the Prime Minister reached Auckland this morning to bring his election campaign to a close in and around the city. Mr Coates, accompanied by Mrs Coates, who has stood up well to the strain of the arduous travelling, 'was welcomed on arrival by members of the Reform League and other prominent citizens, and he faced a heavy programme of meetings with the same enthusiasm as he has shown throughout the contest elsewhere in the Dominion.

Two meetings of ladies in support of the candidature of Miss E. Melville and Mrs C E Maguire, gave the Prime Minister great receptions in the afternoon, but in the evening he faced a harder task, when he met a well mixed audience at Epsom, where he spoke in favour of Mr V. H. Potter, Reform candidate for the New Eden electorate, and a meeting at Ponsonby in support of Mr F Adeane, at which there was a strong Labour element.

Repeating his remarks of a few weeks ago, the Prime Minister told Miss E. Melville's supporters at Mt. Albert that there were many points in which women members of Parliament could give assistance, especially in humanitarian legislation. The ladies assured the Prime Minister that the Government had their confidence and support.

The Newmarket meting was also supposed to be one for ladies, but when the Prime Minister arrived ho was followed into the hall by a number of men. Their presence, especially that of an interjector, was resented by some of the women.

"Here, youl You get out of it. This • here is a meeting for ladies, thisis. We came here to. hear the Prime Minister, not your clap-trap," said a plain spoken woman to the noisy one. That was the end of that interjector, for what the little lady who voiced the remonstrance lacked in bulk she made up in decisiveness.

"All that the farmers have got is mortgages," called another interjector at Newmarket. "Quite sure?" asked the Prime Min-

ister. "Yes," the interjector answered, "they have got a hundred per cent, of mortgages." "What party do you support?" Mr Coates asked. "The United Party," was the reply. "And you believe in their borrowing policy?" "Yes, too right I do." "Well, then, why on earth do you comnlain about farmers' mortsases when vou propose to add another £fiOOoo 000 worth on to them?' The audience saw the point and laughed down the interiector. A little while later, however, he came a"ain, and fell into a tr at), which -silenced him for .the remnitider of the meeting. "The old man has gone childish. Never mind about him. Gordon. We are with you." This interjection came from a man who had a secure but uncomfortable seat in th° floor of the orchestra well at the Epsom meeting, when the Prime Minister spoke of the United Party's borrowing policy. The Prime Minister said that if Sir Joseoh Ward's suggestion's were adopted the Crown would get all the best securities, and the investing public would get the rest. The inevitable result of such a policy would be that the money in New Zealand available for investment would leave the country because of the hieher rate of interest obtainable elsewhere. The State had a dutv< to all of its citizens. The Government could not, and would not, make financing a State mononoly. Sir Joseph Ward had said he could get the money for Public Works out of surpluses, but he did not say how he was goinpr to get those surpluses. He had said "he would reduce incometax and Customs tax. That was_ he was going to' decrease the national revenue, but while he was reducing that expenditure, he was going to have surpluses arfd provide more money for subsidies for secondary industries, and extend humanitarian services. Ha could get the surpluses quite easily by bringing back the maximum income-tax to 8s 9d instead of the 4s 6d, to which it had been reducea by the Reform Party, and by raising the Customs dues instead of reducing them, as Reform had done. "The art of financing a country is to keep everybody going, and every channel for the flow of money open," the Prime Minister added, , . ■ „, The cheers which were given for Mr Coates on his arrival were renewed as he proceeded to his next meeting. The Prime Minister entered a hot-bed of the wildest supporters of Labour at Ponsonby, and he was counted out with enthusiasm he he took his place on the platform. "I see we are all here to-night," he said with a laugh. "It is pleasing to J receive such a hearty welcome, and I know that Auckland West is the only place which could be so enthusiastic." (Applause and counter cheers.) "You are going well, Gordon," a voice was heard above the noise. "Right, and we've got the inside running. We are well ahead of the field," the Prime Minister retorted with the greatest of good humour. Mr Coates stood up to the crowd, and he caught up their interjections and dealt with them when it suited him. "There are only two Parties in this election worth considering," he said, "the Reform Party (applause) and the Labour Party." (Loud Labour cheers.) "What about Joey?" a heckler "He and his crowd are not in the hunt," the Prime Minister replied amidst applause. The Prime Minister's remarks were on the lines of the previous addresses, but so great was the hubbub which the noisy crowd at the back created that it was difficult for a time to hear him Another crowd outside, equal in size to that inside, also joined in the excitement, and a section of them made a determined effort to force their way in. They were trying the impossible, for not another person could havebeen crowded into the building. They made their presence known, howevpr bv continuous cheering and shouting outside, but what they were fLLS^SetrTw^lhL 6 1 Government's land of thanks and and th- gat ered aro.« ft A "*""*■- the irreconcilables.