PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 103, 28 October 1925, Page 7

PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR

ENTHUSIASM IN TARANAKI

STRONG GOVERNMENT NEEDED,

(111 TCIEOT.APn,—WtESS ASSOCIATION.)

STRATtfOKD, 27th October

The visit of Mr. Contes to-uiyht was made the occasion of u bi^ Reform rally. The Town Hall was unable to hold the audience, the stage and all other availiblo accommodation being filled to overlowing. Mr. Walter, the Reform candidate, made his first appearance in Stratford in his campaign of the elcc-coi-uie, and spoke an hour before Mr. Jualcs's arrival. Ho pledged himself to vote oa a itu-confideuctt motion with Reform, and gave hearty support generally to Mr. L'oates's policy. The Prime Minister, on his arrival at '.he hall, received a rousing reception, and delivered a two hours' address on the. lines of his previous addresses throughout the count.-;-. There was much enthusiasm at the conclusion, and a resolution conveying a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. 'Coates for !.is address, and expressing confidence in him as Prime Minister, and in the policy and administration of the present Government, was carried unanimously, and with enthusiasm.

The meeting closed with cheers for -Mi'. Cuates and Mr. Walter. v ,

Earlier in the evening, Mr. Coates addressed a crowded audience at Hawera, receiving an enthusiastic reception,. the big gathering singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." His speech was the. tenth delivered during the day, and followed tho lines of those previously given. Referring to the late Mr. Massey, Mr. Coates paid ;: tribute to .the manner in which he had guided the country through difficult periods, prewar and post-war. The result of his work left the Dominion the most fortunate- isles in the British Empire. Mr. Coates 1 stressed the need of n strong Government, able to cope with disruptive influences working ' in the country and undermining high ideals and privileges which f had ""been the heritage of Britishers for centuries. He asked, for n mandate from the electors to enable the Government to deal with this matter, in an effective manner. Ufa ling with finance, he declared that tlie prospects for tile current year wcro good, and denied that the Government w.is extravagant m administration, lie analysed the statement that charges had been increased by fifteen millions since the pre-war period, and said, excluding Post and Telegraph and Railway Departments, which paid their own way, and the war costs, also the : cost of living, (lie increase in the cost of administration worked out at £3 5s 6d per head in 1914-15, arid £3 Os 9d last year. Discussing the Public Debt, the Prime Minister said that of the amount raised since 1912, £66,800,000, 90 per cent, was interest earning, and no charge on the community. He failed to see how tho Government could carry on a vigorous development scheme without increasing the Public Debt, ancf emphasised the needs of the country in expenditure of money on developmental purposes, railways, electricity, p'ublie" works, tliid school buildings. He contended that the Government was following the only possible course for a country like New Zealand, and declared there was no power on the Statute Book to make a third cut in Public servants' salaries. He agreed that there had been an increase in the total amount of CustqlriSe Ditty, but declared that there was no increase in the tariff except on. luxuries. Greater importations of dutiable goods was, the reason for the increase, and the >mounfc collected was due to greater prosperity. New Zealand had more free goods coming into the country than Canada or Australia'.

Referring to land tenure, he said that Ihu Govermnent was carrying out a jiational stocktaking of all land suitable for settlement. It was of no use putting the compulsory- clauses of thd Ad into operation till the land waH obtained at prices at which settlers would be ablo to make a success. Ho dealt with banking and advances to settlers, and said tho Government desired to give practical effect to a system of finance which would be of tho "greatest use to the farmer. Mr. Coats indicated that the Government proposed'to assist the family man from tho Consolidated l'"u mis.

Concluding, Mr. Coates referred to ilio Locarno Pact, and expressed, the hope that when it was signed the peace iiiitl stability of-Europe would' mean a lot for New Zealand.

At the conclusion of his address a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Coates with confidence in his administration and leadership. ,The vote was unanimous, and the audience accorded him an ovation.