DECISION RESERVED

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 66, 11 December 1929, Page 12

DECISION RESERVED

DAMAGES CLAIAIED FOR INJURIES. The case in which Konrad Petersen, waterside worker, claimed 1643/17/- from Gannaway and Co., Ltd., stevedores, of Wellington, for injuries alleged to have been received as the result of an accident I on the steamer West Nivarra was eonclud- ' ed in the Supreme Court yesterday, lhe Chief Justice (Hon. Al. Alyers) was on the bench. Air. O. C. Mazengarb. with him Air. 11. J. V. James, appeared for plaintiff. and Air. C. A. L. Treadwell, with him Air. E. Parry, for defendant company. . . I His Honour intimated that he would J give his judgment before the vacation.

A VIGOROUS SPEECH MR. COATES IN FORM UNITED PARTY CONDEMNED REFORM’S CLEAN SHEET A vigorous speech dealing with current political questions was delivered by the Leader of the Opposition (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) to a crowded audience at Eastbourne last night. Mr. Coates, who spoke for close on two hours, was listened to most attentively, his address being punctuated with much applause. Mr. Coates, who was given what the chairman (Mr. C. H. Andrews) described as a real Eastbourne welcome, said the Reform Party was not composed of men who advertised— A voice: That’s the style. (Laughter.) Mr. Coates: We cannot display our goods in the window when you come to realise how well other parties display their goods. It may be that we do not possess the art of advertising. Cries of “Oh!” and laughter.) Mr. Coates said that the Reform Party did not advertise, and he was inclined to think that that was the reason why they suffered defeat at the last election. A voice: Look at the Budget. “I can’t get a great deal of inspiration from the Budget when I remember the promises of the United Party,” returned Mr. Coates, amidst applause. Proud of Attainments. “We are not ashamed,” declared Mr. Coates, in referring to the administration of the Reform Party. “We are proud of what has been accomplished. It is not on our reputation of the past that we ask for consideration. We say that is a factor — an d a very important one, tooy because it indicates to anyone who is concerned about New Zealand that we have had a tried set of men who have continued to assist the country’s progress. (Applause.) When they left office they left the country with its credit at higii-water mark. (Applause.) The credit of this country had never been higher. (Renewed applause.) And while we may fiave had our own internal troubles—l refer to unemployment—New Zealand was affected less than any other country in the British Empire.” (Loud and prolonged applause.) Real Claim to Support. Mr. Coates contended that the Reform Party had a very real claim to public support on account of the progress made during the sixteen years when it was in office. It had been charged with being the particular friend of the big squatter. A voice: So you are. Mr. Coates said it had been alleged that the Reform Party relieved the wealthy of taxation, but that was not true. A voice: Yes, and cut the Civil servants’ salaries. Mr. Coates: Here was the position. In 1921 this country was faced with disaster. We adopted the right policy. It would have been folly to have adopted any other policy than that of’encouraging all classes of industry to get to work. The moment the United Party came into office they increased taxation on the land. We have no objection to taxation being imposed provided it is placed on the shoulders of those able to bear it. (Applause.) What is the use of an impost if the land is unsuitable for closer settlement?. What is the use of an impost on an-industry if it cannot bear it? On the other fiand, the incentive should be to give every possible encouragement to a man to develop his industries. That, ladies and gentleman, is a policy.” (Loud applause.) “Vicious Form of Taxation.” Mr. Coates said that the United Party, election promises notwithstanding, had increased the primage duty, whereas the policy of the Reform Party was to reduce Customs duty wherever possible. United had employed a most vicious form of taxation when it placed an extra one per cent, primage duty on imports. “What els edid they do?” continued Mr. Coates. “They stopped the Palmerston North deviation ” A voice: Hear, hear. Mr. Coates: Who said “Hear, hear”? Tfie voice: Me. (Laughter.) Mr. Coates: “I thought you would.” (Renewed laughter.) The United Party had stopped the Rotorua-Taupo railway, held up the Morningside tunnel, allowed wild and reckless statements about railway workshops to remain unanswered, and had allowed political patronage to creep into the Civil Service. A Clean Record. “I say the public funds should be administered fairly and above board,” dedared Air. Coates, amidst applause. “Anything in the shape of political favour or patronage is wrong, entirely wrong. (Applause.) Such a thing does not conform with the ideals of our New Zealand people. (Renewed applause.) Public money should be spent where it is required, and in accord with the needs of the community and not at the will and wish of whatever Government happens to be in office. (Applause.) I say without fear of contradiction that as far as Reform are concerned we have never linked ourselves to anything that can be termed political patronage. Ministerial Control. “The United Party have taken definite steps to undermine what should be a clearly laid-down principle. They have altered, or rather propose to alter, the system so as to allow a Minister to have a greater amount of money at his disposal. They _ are altering a definite, carefully designed, and what I believe to be an honest scheme, for the allocation of public money. It is not right and will work out to the detriment of the people of New Zealand.” (Applause). The United Party had promised to find work for everybody at 14/- a day. “Better than nine bob a day,” interjected someone. Mr. Coates: It is just a matter of proportion, after all. A voice: Oh, I see. (Laughter.) Mr. Coates: You say it is better than 9/-. Let me tell you there were about twelve thousand men employed on Public Works when the Reform Party left office. There are those who talk about 9/a day— A voice: Now then, Gordon. (Laughter.) Air. Coates: Exactly what one foresaw has happened. Surely it is up to those who are administering the affairs of the country to see that we secure a fair deal for the money spent. Would you, for instance. choose men who were experienced or inexperienced? When the Reform Party was in office the terms and conditions of the men were better than they liad ever been. . . . . . Satisfied Workers.

Air. Coates said that the men on public works during the Reform regime were most contented and satisfied. They knew their job and they did it well, knowing that they had nothing to fear. There was an agreement in black and white. The principle behind it was payment by output. It was nobody’s business bow much the men earned. The quicker they worked the better for the country. It was not a bit uncommon for men engaged on tunnelling work to earn anything from 30/- to £2 a day. It might be said that that was a waste of money. But was it? After all, it was the footage cost that counted. They were great fellows, but now, with the United Government in power, they were being put o’l relief works. AVas that fair? Although the Alinister had denied it, the public works of New Zealand were being turned into relief undertakings. Solemn Contract Repudiated. .“I have seen it myself,” said Air. Coates. “And I will say that as sure as I am standing on this platform tonight unless the United Party also their policy you are not going to get the best results for the money expended. The country is going to lose. It is going to cost more per yard, more per mile, more per building, and that, ladies and gentle-

men, has been brought about by putting unemployed on to our public works. The policy is wrong. We saw what was coming and the results arq here to-day. You have only to ask the men themselves. The United Party have broken faith with the men. They have repudiated the solemn contract entered into by the previous Government.” Air. Coates said that the United Party was committed to spend ten million pounds on railway works—takings during the next three or four years. It was up to them, however, to prove to the public that those works would pay interest and sinking fund, A voice: Why didn’t you put the Midland line through? “Can it be justified on paper?” asked Air. Coates. “If I told you the loss would be half a million a year would you still build it?” The interjector: I wouldn’t believe it. (Laughter.) Air. Coates: No, of course you wouldn t. That is just the point. You and I don’t "The interjector: You don’t know better. that is why. Air. Coates: Every man is entitled to his own opinion. I admit some people are inclined to look with suspicion on politicians. . . . • . , x j A voice: They have a right to. Air. Coates (firmly) : Have they a right to? AA’hen I make a statement I mean it. I do not make it lightly. (Loud applause.) After all, I do take my job seriously. (Renewed applause.) So far as office is concerned I don’t care twopence about it, but I am concerned about the future welfare of the country. (Thunderous applause.) Other subjects dealt with by Air. Coates are reported elsewhere. A motion of thanks to Air. Coates and confidence in Air. Johnston was carried by acclamation. “SOMETHING FOR NOTHING” INTEREST ON DEPOSITS “I am not attacking the Post Office at all—it is our policy to fight for the existing social structures,” said Air. H. F Johnston. Reform candidate for the Hutt seat, at Eastbourne last night, when pointing out that his references to a Labour Government’s attack on the interest on Post Office Savings Bank deposits were being misrepresented. Air. Johnston said his statement had been that the Labour leaders’ objective was Socialisation, and in terms of that they would take over the people’s land, the shops, and the money. Air. Holland had said that interest was something for nothing, and Air. Johnston had expressed the view that it would be madness to entrust our affairs to people expressing those views. There had been no attack on the Post Office. . . ~ Tn regard to the lowering of the maximum amount on which the Post Office Savings Bank would pay interest. Alt. Johnston invited Air. Nash to make the same inquiries he had made The Labour candidate would then find that the alteration had been made on the recommenda tion of the responsible Departmental officers.