"A WILD NIGHT."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19467, 14 November 1928, Page 8

"A WILD NIGHT."

MR COATES IN ENEMY STRONGHOLDS.

ORGANISED HOSTILE GANGS

PRIME MINISTER ENDS HARD CAMPAIGN.

[THE PRESS Spscial Service.] AUCKLAND, November 13. It was a wild night, but a great night tfhat the Prime Minister had this evening to bring his election campaign to a triumphant close. With characteristic gameness Mr Coates chose three Opposition strongholds in which to deliver his final messages, and, never once losing his imperturbable smile, he faced organised hostile gangs, who yelled and booed and tried to break up his meetings. Bui he beat them all, including the busloads of hecklers who came to Onehunga with the avowed object of giving him such a hot reception that he would be unable to speak. They tried counting him out, but he ridiouled them by telling them they did not know how to do it. "If you want to know how," he said, "watch and take the time from me." And again, "Oh, you've got to take it. I know it is getting undor your ribs. By the time I have finished with you, you will be eating out of my hand.''

Mr Coates is no mean prophet. He held the audiences at Otahohu, Onehunga, and Avondale at any time he chose to speak of Government policy and performance. At Otahuhu one enthusiast for - the United Party tried to talk about surpluses and the repayment of the war debt, and another who espoused Labour interjected with an unintelligible remark about income-tax and Customs, and then preceded merrily to applaud his own efforts, some others joining him. They tried a weak attempt at counting out, but the remainder of the audience were not going to have that, and they drowned the noisy ones in vociferous cheers.

Then the Primo Minister took the interjectors by the hand, and showed how the surpluses of the war years had been used on soldier settlement and public works, and those of recent years ip the reduction of the dead-weight war debt. The Customs-dues had been reduced, not raised, and income-tax had been reduced from the 8s 9d, at which it was left by Sir Joseph Ward, to 4s 'od. And while he talked he had absolute silence, and carried away with him a vote of thanks and confidence* At Onehunga, where those who could not get into the hall crowded around his car, Mr Coates received the wildest of receptions, and then when he got the 'gangs quietened down, stirred them into action again by quoting Sir Joseph Ward's declaration that the United Party would support the Labour Party in any attempt to put the government out of office.

"There is the combination," he said. "The Bight Honourable Sir. Joseph Wai"d and Hprry TollatiVf Tnbovr and United, tied together. So yon i know. now where you are: It is definitely a case of a vote for the United Party *>eing a vote for the Labour Party. AH the moderate people will have *n he with us.'* (Cheers and cries of "No.") To drive it home, Mr Coates repeated his remarks concerning the union of •United and "Labour. "Oh, you can boo end yon can hoot, but toil have got to recognise that faot.'' he said. "Who told you that? Harry Holland P" the Prime Minister asked when an interjector said a big contract had been let to an Enerlish firm for the supply of smokeless fnel. .. "It is a faot," the inter.iectorsaid. "Look here," said the Prime Minister. "is there anyone here who really believes that we have let.a contract in England for smokeless fuel P" , A. few cries answered, "Yea,'-- ana when the Prime Minister pressed rd.r something more definite, there was a wild yell of "Yes.". "Well, you are the most credulous bunch of people I have ever ?een," the Prime Minister retorted. Somebody outside flung, in A question about the fuel. . "Hullo, there is another man out there who has swallowed bait, hook, sinker, and all)" Mr Coates said amidst laughter and cheers. He stated plainly that in the tenders which were being for the supply of the fuel it was specified definitely that all coal used must be New Zealand coal. Mr Coates was cheered again and again above the counter-demonstration as he left. It was a hard fight to reach the cars to get away to Avondale, but stalwart constables cleared a way. Tte .Avondale meeting was the greatest ever held there., The Government's supporters let the oppositionists understand that they would not be allowed to have things all their own way, and they greeted Mr Coates with round after round of cheers, their volume outweighing that of the interjectors imported for the occasion. Mr Coates was given a most attentive hearing owing to the strength of his supporters, but after they had carried a vote of thanks and confidence' they gave the interjectora a turn by leaving them alone to demonstrate according to their kind.

Earlier in the day Mr Coates visited the Evelyn Firth Home, where ho talked pension matters with the returned soldier patients in conversational style on the verandah. He was assurcS of their good wishes in the contest. Several hundred men at the Purewa railway construction camp gave him a great reception, and let it be known that they appreciated what the Government had done to improve the conditions, of work and of living in the , Public Works camps. Mr Coates returns to Wellington tonight.