TRIUMPH OVER DIN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 14

TRIUMPH OVER DIN

MR. COATES AT AUCKLAND

BRAVE FRONT TO UPROAR

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

ATJCKLAND, This Day.

Pandemonium, with unparalleled scenes of unrestrained rowdyism, organised obstruction, and furious uproar, ■was enacted in the Town Hall last night ■when the Right Hon. .T. Cf. Coates attempted to deliver a political address. Although admission was by ticket, and it was obvious thai; the great majority of the vast audience which filled the building to overflowing were solid-

ly with the speaker, the obstructionists were in sufficient force aud well enough organised and distributed throughout the hall to prevent Mr. Coates from making, during the quietest period of hia speech, more than a dozen consecutive sentences without interruption. For the first half-hour bedlam was let loose, and, although thereafter there were slight improvements, the leaders of the tormentors gave him little poace. Until the conclusion of his address Mr. Coates remained throughout selfpossessed and good-humoured, and held tenaciously to his course of driving home every point, and completing his remarks as he wished to complete them. The fact that a largo proportion of his utterances were drowned by the din did not detract from his victory over the rowdy element.

SEA. OF INTERRUPTIONS.

Mr. Coates's attempt to outline the causes leading uy> to the formation of the Coalition and the reasons for the sinking of party differences and ambitions, were swamped by a sea ot' interruptions. Mr. Coates: "You may treat the affairs of the country lightly, but when you realise how the- deficiency in revenue has increased —

A voice: "You're a liar."

Mr. Coates: "You may treat the financial position lightly, but I ask everyone to recognise his responsibilities as a citizen of New Zealand. If there is one class likely to suffer as a result of the depression it is probably that of the men who are making all the noiso to-night." (Applause, intermingled with booing.) A voice: "You are looping the i*»\>." "What about Esson's 800 quid," demanded another.

The din and shouted interjections increased in volume. As an interjector towards the back of the hall accompanied a police officer into the open air cat calls, jeers, hoots, and yells marked his departure, and one man, shouting at the top of his voice, hurled at the speaker, "Another of your dirty tricks.' 3

Fighting calmly and' resolutely against the uproar, Mr. Coates won respite after respite. He said the country's affairs must be administered by prudent men. If New Zealand were unable to pay its way it would mean for on thing a huge increase iv the number of unemployed. For those out of work he had the deepest sympathy (dissent), and it was his duty to see how soon he could reverse the present position which no man could alter unless lie had the whole-hearted support of all who loved their country.

Touching interest rates, My. Coates said that while a 10 per cent, interest "cut" might have assisted mortgagors, it would not have saved them. That was his conclusion when the question was reduced to tin tacks.

OBJECTION TO DOLE

Touching on the problem of what to do for the 13,000 unemployed unprovided for every week, Mr. Ooates said anything in the nature of a dole would undermine the moral fibre of the nation. If £500,000 were available it would be possible to place 20,000 in productive employment, but that sum could not be got without causing increased hardship by increased taxation.

Already there was a gratifying response to the schemes for getting men on the land, which promised greatly to relieve the situation in the near future. He made an appeal to employers to ration work as far as possible. Mr. Holland had promised that every wageearner would have his wage cut restored, but neither Mr. Holland nor anybody else could do that. As soon as the country righted itself and the crisis was past, then only could they seriously promise to return to the old standard.

Mi-. Coates reminded the hostile .section of his hearers that the Socialist Party in Australia made a 22 per cent, cut, and included old-age and widows' pensions.

A vote of thanks and conlidcnce that Mr. Forbes and Mr. Coatos would soon relieve the country of its difficulties was carried with enthusiasm.