"APPEAL TO DIGGERS"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 133, 8 June 1931, Page 8

"APPEAL TO DIGGERS"

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Mr. C. Morton Ollivier, of Christchurch, deserves the commendation of the electors of this country for his clear and dispassionate exposure of the electioneering methods at present being adopted by Mr. Coates. When the economic position of New Zealand demands the utmost regard and the Prime Minister the assistance of all sections of political thought, Mr. Coates despite his prof erred help has embarked'upon a campaign of unfair criticism. Did Mr. Coates have his "tongue in his cheek" when he in his reply to Mr. Forbes stated that the Reform political group in Parliament would give help and support? ' •■■.•■■' Mr. Ollivier reminds us of a few of the items of the extravagance of the present Opposition when in power. He did not mention the contract with the present General Manager of Railways, nor the purchase at huge cost of the unsatisfactory Garrett engines, nor the spending of £10,500 in three years on the Ministerial residence in Tinakori road, nor the Haiti Poniare, nor Arapuni. But in times of depression the memories of electors are not short. ■.-.'' Mr. Ollivier, however, did refer to the fiasco of the soldiers' settlement land-pur-chases. That mess resulted in the bankruptcy of many soldier farmers. Moreover, as a returned soldier I recall ' the "appeal to diggers" made by Mr. Coates at his.Mastevton speech during last election. Mr. Coates repeated this last week in Canterbury when attempting to condemn Mr. Forbes for not immediately putting into active operation the provisions of the Soldiers Rehabilitation Act. But what he chose to leave unsaid was that for years the Returned Soldiers' Association pleaded with Mr. Coates in vain for a Rehabilitation Commission. That was granted by the United Party shortly after the last election. As a returned man I know that Mr. Forbes can be relied upon to implement his declared policy on behalf of returned soldiers as soon as the economic position permits, and I for one'will join in helping George Forbes as Mr. Ollivier truly says, "to get the country out of: the mess created by his predecessors."—l am, etc., , s ■ . DIGGER. sth June.