A SOUND FOUNDATION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 102, 27 October 1925, Page 9

A SOUND FOUNDATION

"MUST BUILD FIRMLY AND

STEADILY"

BETTER SAYS AHEAD

(BI rELEORAFB. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, 26th Oct.

Proceeding to Inglewood after a few hours'; respite in the forenoon, the Prime Minister found himself among enthusiastic supporters to-day, the simple directness of his enunciation of the Government's policy causing the utmost enthusi-

asm. For a few seconds at the commencement, a baby, aroused by the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," set up an earnest opposition to the Prime Minister. "Don't bother to take the child out, please," said Mr. Coates, with characteristic good humour, as ho observed the mother about to take the child out. "I am used to kiddies; I have five of my own." No mother was going to miss hearing the Prime Minister after a statement like that, and she resumed her seat amid loud applause. Mr. Coates trenchantly analysed criticisms that. had been levelled at the Government, and was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and continued confidence. "We have been told that in what we are doing we must call a halt," said the Prime Minister in a critical analysis o£ Labour's aspirations. "But as far as I am concerned we are going to push right on. Imagine calling a halt now. Why, it is not iii the nature of things. We have' a great country and we have_ undertaken to keep going along progressive lines. At the same time nothing is done rashly without consideration of whether it ■will benefit tire country generally. I "NO FACING BOTH WAYS" "We must advance," said Mr. Coates with determination. "There can be no facing both -ways, i To call a halt now wold mean the hindering . of developmental works already embarked upon. That is what we are trying to avoid." (Applause.) . ■'■ "I'll'say this," said Mr. Coates a little later; "No set of men were ever more careful than the men we have on the Treasury benches at the moment, and that is worth remembering when critics talk about extravagance. (Applause.) No, we have laid a sound foundation, and we must build up firmly and steadily. We have got to work until our troubles are behind us. If we stopped still now wo would become stagnant, and most people know it." (Hearhear.)

"There are so many people in this world who are really never happy until they are thoroughly miserable," said the Prime Minister in referring to the prospects of the future, "but that is the wrong spirit to run hand in hand with progress. . Look at the troubles faced by our people in the late 'eighties and early 'nineties. They were big problems, too, but they passed away, and I am sure that better days are ahead of our own country, better days than we have ever had before." (Applause ) A voice: "That's the stuff.'•' A SPIRIT OF LOYALTY "There is no royal road to success,"' said the Prime Minister. "If you listen to_ what some of these chaps say you will bo told that if you put them into power you won't have to work any more.. That's nonsense. Everything is achieved honestly through hard work, and it's the farmer who knows it. What we require is a spirit of loyalty and co-operation, a spirit of loyalty on the part of the worker to the employer, and an equal spirit on the part- of the employer to the worker. Add then a hearty co-operation of all the people, always remembering the public interests, and you must come out right." (Applause.)

"TWO SARCASTIC BEGGARS"

In the evening the Prime Minister spoke to over two thousand people in the Coronation Hall, New Plymouth where the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) presided. "There are two reasons I suppose why 1 am going all over the country, said the Prime Minister, when a scene of the wildest enthusiasm had subsided. "One is that you want to have a look at me, and see what sort of a chap I look like. Number two is that I want'to see how you all look, and, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to see you looking so well, and delighted to be among you." (Laughter and applause.) Proceeding, to deal vigorously with the Government's policy, Mr. Coatea was listened to with rapt attention, cheers frequently accompanying the volumes of applause. At the conclusion of his address a no-confidence amendment was moved from the rear of the hall. The Chairman: "Would you tell me your name, please?" Tho audience roared with laughter when tho name "O'Brien" was called out. "Who seconds (ho amendment then?" asked the Mayor. "a\IY. Gillnn," was the reply, whereupon a member of the audience ejaculated, "Two sarcastic beggars." (Laughter.)

A motion of thanks and confidence) ■was carried by an overwhelming majority by acclamation, and Mir audience rose in a body to appkud the Prime Minister.