THE REFORM POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 100, 24 October 1925, Page 13

THE REFORM POLICY

PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR

ADDEESS IN WAIKATO DISTEICT.

(BI TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CAMBRIDGE, 23rd October.

The Prime Minister continued his election tour to-day, when he entrained at Newmarket for Frankton Junction. Here hie opened the ,new Social Institute erected by the members of the Railway Sports and Social Club, the land and building materials having been given by the Railway Department, Mr. Coates congratulated the men, who with their families were present in great numbers, on their initiative and industry, and said that he was desirous of seeing that the men had the fullest opportunities of enjoying themselves, as a happy and contented staff was a decided . asset to the Government. The men expressed their appreciation of the Prime Minister's remarks by cheering him to the echo. -, ■ .

The party then left by special train for To Aroha, where Mr. Coates spoke in support of the * Government candidate, Mr. C. E. MacMillan.

The Prime Minister , addressed a huge meeting at Te Aroha this afternoon, and the Mayor (Mr. K. Coulter), who is also the Nationalist ■: candidate for the' Tauranga scat, was bis chariman. In his opening remarks, the chairman took the opportunity" of thanking Mr. Coates for the fair and impartial manner in which he had 'dealt with ••several local questions. "When' he leads a new progressive party, and I believe .he will," continued Mr. Coulter, "then I am going to be..one»of his strongest supporters." .There was a murmur through the hall . indicating that the audience hardly knew how to take this totally; unexpected advance. ...

The meeting was • held in" the' Theatre Royal,, and although it was mid-after-rioon the building was packed to the doors, fanners from niiles around having left their ■ herds to hear the gospel of progress as preached by the young New Zealander. Mr. Coates was greeted with prolonged cheers, and as he developed his policy and • explained in his blunt, straightforward way just what he hoped to do; for the country, the audience warmed " more and more to him, and frequently drowned his remarks with applause.

He told jiis hearers that he was no orator, although he had r his own way of t saying things. This way, however, made a tremendous appeal. There was more than a hint to the Mayor in the remark that he and his party were fighting for their very lives, while he reminded the audience that they could not afford to be half-hearted in an election such as this when the future progress and prosperity of the country were at stake.

The Prime Minister made a brief reference to the proposal emanating I: om another quarter that loans for development works should be obtained locally. It appeared to him to be wise to get the necessary money abroad if it ruuld be obtained at reasonable rates, and thus leave money available in the I'ominion for the development of industries. In asking the electors to return Mr. MacMillan, the Prime Minister . said that if he was to be head of the country he did not want any'half-hearted support. . Leaving Te Aroha at 4 o'clock, tire Prime Minister and his party went ly special train by way of Frankton. lo Te Awamutu, where, on arrival, he vas met by a body of 34. returned ■•oldiers and a large gathering of citizens. Mr. J. Oliphant explained that many te"turned men who would have liked to be present were busy on. their farms. On their behalf he wished Mr. Coatss a long career as their "Digger t'emier." Mr. Coates expressed the hope that the soldiers wore doing well, Kitif .not he was going to do ■ his best to help them. In the early evening Mr. Coates addressed a largo gathering ■in one cf the halls, and was again wonderJally received. ■ The Mayor of .To Awamutu (Mr. L. G. Armstrong) presided. 'I be Government candidate for the Waikato scat,. Mr.. Stewart Reid, gave a. short speech. He spoke of the Primo 'Minister as a man who . among other things could throw a. bullock and ride a Luckjumper. "I support' him," ho said, ''because he is a straight and blunt man, and clean goer, and that is w>iat ■wo vrant to run this Dominion." ''.bis declaration was well 1 received.

The Prime Minister held tho attention of the large audience for over an i.o.ir, fully explaining his policy and meeting much of the criticism that had been levelled against him. He paid some sttention to the question of naval defence, and claimed that no Government should be allowed to go on the 'Yensury benches unless it was prepared to do" the proper thing on this question. At both these meetings Mr. Coates was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. .

He immediately left;by car for Cambridge,, where ho again addressed a large gathering in the Town Hall, md was again received with the otmost enthusiasm.