LABOUR CRITICISED

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 130, 29 November 1932, Page 5

LABOUR CRITICISED

NOTHING-; CONSTRUCTIVE

"DABBLING IN PARTY

POLITICS"

ADDRESS BY MR. COATES

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NELSON, 28th November.

• Several meetings were addressed by the Minister of Public Works,, the Eight Hon..J. G. Coates, in. the Takaka district to-day, when he was enthusiastically received by large gatherings. ' Mr. Coates. said he regretted the' necessity' of the Motueka by-election; He had watched with interest; the late member's participation in political life. Eeferring to. pensions, Mr. Coates said it was the Government's first care that' the pensions of the people should be preserved. Failure to face the position of falling revenue would inevitably lead to, a breakdown of the source of supply, and distress and poverty would be the result. In regard to soldiers' pensions he said: "When the New Zealand soldier was receiving £1 Is a week as an economic pension, and a war pension more liberal than that of any other country in. the- Empire, can it be said he-has been .robbed?" j Mr. B. Semple,' Mr. Coates continued, was .reported to have said at Takaka on 17th November: "If anyone could prove tliat as a result of the Ottawa Conference employment was going to be made for jnore people he would resign his seat and keep out of politics for the rest of~his. life. The only result of Ottawa in New Zealand was that it would put hundreds out of work." CHALLENGE TO MB. SEMPLE. "I will accept Mr. Semple's challenge," said, Mr. Coates. "My reply is ;that the New Zealand agreement with .Britain made at Ottawa affects our primary producers and every citizen 'in New Zealand. ', The fact is that had \ we not arrived at an agreement with 'Britain all .butter and dairy by-pro-ducts, as well as apples, would, after November, have carried an mi? ■post of duty of 10 per cent, for all these products entering the United Kingdom. '. In other words, not only would we have lost our preference in. the United Kingmarkets, but our products auto"raatically would have been, placed in , the same category as foreign products; that is, our butter exported to England would bear a duty of 15s a cwtj fruit would encounter a duty of 4s 6d a ewt, and so forth. Apparently Mr..Semple :: did not know'the effect of the Ottawa ' agreement.. For instance, New Zealand ■; butter has 15s per cwt specific duty ad- ' vantage over foreign butter, and at pre- ' sent prices the specific duty is invalu- : able, and definitely increases the pro- [ blem of the foreign competitor on the I British market. ' '■''.'.■', "Now, will Mr. Semple or anyone else " attempt to deny that this basis of preference is not only of great advantage to our primary producers, but also to '. those engaged'in industries? It is not ; only the man who produces a product who gets the advantage, but also those who work for him, those who transport his goods— agents, rail services, shipping services, and many other avenues , of employment which depend on the \ primary ,producer for .their existence. ' To* the growers of apples and pears we can say with reasonable confidence; provided the quality is right, that there is a wonderful future to the industry. The preference given at Ottawa in a , great measure secures a market for the ;' future; it also gives security to' in- ; tending fruitgrowers. . SECRETS OP SOLUTION. "The Labour Party claims to be .national in outlook," concluded Mr. . Coates.: "They claim to have a plan ■ and to be concerned for the future of ; the country. They are endeavouring to ; persuade - the, people that they possess • the secrets of a solution for the present ' crisis -and, could end the downward ; trend. If: the Labour Party are sin- ■ cere arid-possess: a. plan for teadjust- : meat which will contribute to the nn- '. tibnal good and the future welfare, one -• may .well ask .why it is they remain ■ aloof from participating in the joint • effort toward rehabilitation. An opportunity was offered and an invitation was given- them to join in the formation of a National Government, but they refused. * ! ' "What are the Labour Party's prb- ■ pos'als?" he- asked. "We have heard much talk, but 90 far it "has been im■possible to gather anything constructive or-'helpful. All that would seem, to ' emerge from, the flow of eloquence-is that, summed! up, the Labour Party's f proposals indicate a mystic manipulation of the monetary system; nothing • of a definite nature appears, and one 1 is justified in/concluding that the Labour Party in the country's hour of trial are determined to dabble in party politics."