“ELECTION-YEAR SURPRISES”

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22436, 24 June 1938, Page 7

“ELECTION-YEAR SURPRISES”

MR COATES’S WARNING NOISY GOOD HUMOUR AT AUCKLAND MEETING (PBES3 ASSOCIATION TELE OB AM.) AUCKLAND, June 23. A very noisy but quite good-hum-oured reception was given to the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, when he addressed a crowded meeting in the Alexandra Theatre, Green Lane, to-night, at the invitation of Mr W. P. Endean, M.P., and the National Party organisation in the Parnell electorate. The theatre seating more than 600 people, was full half an hour before the meeting, and an overflow crowd of at least 500 listened to a loud-speaker outside, A large Labour section made itself heard throughout, and although Nationalist supporters sometimes showed impatience with the interjections, Mr Coates was quite unperturbed and appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself. His arrival was greeted with a storm of applause, mixed with loud hooting, and before he reached the platform rival demonstrations developed into a “counting out” and the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” with lusty cheers. Mr Coates said that, this being election year, electors could look for many surprises. The members of the Government were not “new chums” in politics, and electors should be on their guard against being wheedled into supporting principles which, perhaps, were not in the interest of New Zealand’s future. “As I listen to the Ministers speaking throughout the country,” said Mr Coates, “I cannot but be impressed with the nervousness and anxiety with which they are seeking public support." They were constantly drawing attention to the worst period through which the country had passed. Work of Last Government Whatever the faults of the last Government might have been, at any rate it had left the ship of State on an even keel and balanced in every direction, ready for the economic improvement which quickly followed and for which the Labour Government was in no way responsible. Some of the financial measures which Labour had undertaken, including the debt reduction, had been made possible by previous legislation. Why was it trying to ride on other people’s backs? Accusing Labour of a thoroughgoing policy of Socialism, Mr Coates said that one of its objectives clearly was the State ownership of industry. He denied that the guaranteed price scheme had done dairy farmers any real good, and declared that underpayment for dairy produce for local consumption had made last season’s so-called export deficit no better than moonshine. Some people perhaps believed that the Government was showing generosity in paying out to producers over and above the guarantee this season, but the money belonged to the producers in any case. Mr Coates said that he would restore produce to its rightful owners and let them decide whether they wanted a pool or not. To provide greater security, he would be prepared to support a minimum price, the producer to be entitled to anything in excess of that.

A motion of thanks to Mr Coates was carried by acclamation. A proposal to add one of confidence in the National Party lapsed in a goodnatured uproar as the meeting dispersed.