“HOT AND COLD”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10096, 8 September 1925, Page 5

“HOT AND COLD”

MINISTER ON INCONSISTENT CRITICS

“PEOPLE WHO CRY “WASTE” AND URGE EXPENSE”

£3,000,000 DEMANDED .IN ONE DAY 5

(SPECIAL TO TIT’S TIMES.)

WANGANUI, Sept. 7. There'was a big gathering at the Opera House to-night when the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, addressed a meeting that was attentive throughout and, in the end, appeared to be enthusiastic with him. Mr F. K. Turnbull, president of the Wanganui Branch of the Reform League, presided and short addresses were delivered by Messrs J. Coul, the Reform candidate for the Wanganui seat and Mr W. S. Glenn, the member for the adjoining electorate, liangitikei. Air Coull said that, although beaten at the last election, he polled 3500 votes and he had every hope of being returned this time.

Air Glenn spoke of tho present Prime Minister as a man who had done things. Ht> had made a huge success of the Department of Public Works, the )P. and T. Department, and the Railways Department, and as Prime Minister had done his part tactfully, firmly and forcefully, and ho was gaining ground as time went on.

The Hon. Air AlcLeod said that Air Massey, one of the greatest of statesmen, had gone and his death was very deeply mourned. But those who were carrying forward the watchword of liberty must make their lamentations short, . for there was work ahead. The party had taken up the work and were going on with it under the guidance and leadership of a great young man—the Hon. J. G. Coates.

It was a common expression when referring to Mr Coates to sav: "Give him a trial" and one always pleased to> hear that, as it was British to give a man a trial Mr Coates already had justified himself and was prepared to go on. He was the man for the job; he would not twist, turn or try to amalgamate with anyone else. The electors would give him fair honest support in the government of the country and in that the party he led was with him. (Applause). PARLIAMENT AND POLITICS "As to the party which is referred to as the Extreme Labor party, said Mr McLeod, "I will say that Mr Holland and his associates certainly have a policy. They know what they want. They were driving for a certain thing and, after all, a man could not help taking liis hat off to a party who had a policy and stood by it. I shall light them on every occasion, because I believe them to be on the wrong track, but I admire them when they put forward their ideas and are not afraid to own them. The greatest danger in the political life of any country were the people who had not fixed opinions and were wriggling, wobbling and wavering.

INCONSISTENT CRITICS

“After the Prime Alinister had asked that a committe should be set up to investigate the charges of the Auditor-General, Air Alasters, in a recent political adress, had not hesitated to deal with the Government respecting this question, despite the fact that the question was subjudiee. Would those people who talked about the extravagance of the Government like to say they would cease their demands for extra votes of money for this, that and the other thing. In their talk of extravagance not only did they shirk the real point and avoid the truth, but they were not at all backward in asking for more expenditure. Why did they not be consistent ? He would not like to say Hurt the .opponents of they Govern merit- Lad asked for an additional £20.000.060 of expenditure, but lie did hot think it was far short of that and in one day recently, when J, :e Estimates were under consideration, they made requests for extra expenditure amounting to over £3,000,000 Let the people look to things themselves.

If economy was needed in the country, it must begin with the people; it could not begin with tho Covemment. The Government had endeavoured to guide this country carefully by not borrowing more than could be afforded and by spending to the best advantage. Requests had been made on the one hand for somewhere about £20,000,000 for advances to settlers and, on the other hand, it was said the country was borrowing too much. The critics could not blow hot and cold and there had been too much blowing hot and cold on the part of the opponents of the Government.

AGRICULTURAL BANKS.

“There had been a demand for an agricultural bank, but far too little consideration had boon g>Y^ n “l 13 question. Those who studied lie American system would find that the practice was to advance 50 per cent, on appraised values and he asked any farmer present to say what use .50 per cent, would he to him. It vas the experience in New Zealand that 75 per cent, was not sufficient lor most farmers. However, the Govern ment wanted to obtain information on the spot about these hanks am., for that purpose, was sending a commission abroad. “The cry had been raised that the Government had no settlement policy. but tho fact could not he lost sight oi that much had been done in the way of development and that for a great' deal of this Mr Coates had been responsible, he having made great progress in pushing the telephones into the rural districts and roading lie back country.

USEHOLD. LEASEHOLD, .AND

FREEHOLD

“T want to say a few words on tenure,” continued the Minister. “We have a party which is advocating the ‘usehold’, whatever that is. We have another—] was. going to call it a party hut that is an exaggeration—set of men, but we don t know whether they a.re useholders, leaseholders or freeholders. Their leader, ■Mr Forbes, has always ieen a leaseholder, but the other night we put, him to tho test and bo_ talked ever and voted in the freehold lon by I Tho Government party are freeholders and will remain so. All tins talk about the usehold is fudge.

I have lived my life in (be backblocks and I know wtvat the people there went through. I think they were heroic —especially the wo, nen. The men toiled in season and out of season and turned the wilderness • into a garden.. Should someone colne along and value their improvements at £6 an acre when it has taken £2O wirth of their hard labor to make the property what it is? That is why we want the freohold for the peoplo*

THRIFT AND HOAIE BUILDING

Mr McLeod realised , that housing was a great problem, particularly in the cities, hut he would not make suggestions to them on this or any other, subjfect for the purpose of cadging votes, ho would say straight that our young people must economise as The early settlers . had to. do. It must be realised that to provide for old age it was necessary tto economise in youth. For all that, the Government had done much in grappling with the housing problem. It had done more than any other Government of New Zealand had ever done. “THE COAHNG FIGHT”

“The Government led by Air Massey in recent years, and now by Mr Coates, had done enough in the past to justify the people’s support at the coming election. In the course of a few weeks the Government’s policy would be before the country. The Government would ask for the support of the people and would abide by the decision. There would be no weeping and wailing whatever the result was. They were prepared to take a licking like men. But they were not afraid of the result. A vote of thanks to the Alinister for his address was carried amid enthusiasm.