HOT STUFF!

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10726, 25 October 1928, Page 5

HOT STUFF!

. '’MR-.' COATEg. ATTACKS MR •:/ HOLLAND. ' '.' U ■LABOR HAS BOTH FEET' ON \ SOFT PEDAL. WHAT THE ELECTORS SHOULD ' ; ■ ■ TU2IMEMPBER .' LABOR LEADER’S TRUE CQLORS. >. (Press Assooiation.) DARGAVILLE, Oct. 24. f The Prime: Minister (Mr; Coates), m continuation;:of his Dominion: tour, reached his own electorate to-day arid: ■ was /met;enthusiastically at Papafha,' where,; after-a'few minutes’, chat with intimate friends, he proceeded to address the largest audience ever. serin- at a political meeting iii that town. - In ' the/couTsoof his speech he covered much;. .Of the ground’of his addresses in southern towns the only, new- matter's touched upon being! to tell the, people exactly where the Labor Party stands and its objectives' and the Socialism of Mr. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party), .and : some references to speeches which Mr. Holland' had been delivering in various parts of New Zealand. '

Mr; Coates said he noticed that Mr Holland had devoted a coitsideFalilo apuhirit of Ins time to attacking him and . the Government generally, and lie-made no apology : for dealing with the 1 attacks at that/ his - first meeting, hi his own electorate, for Ee had noticed that his opponent had pinned his faith to.the Labor Party; -‘Let US ;- go back to 1913 and see .where Mr.Hollaind stood, then,” Mr. Coates continued, ’ as ■he proceeded to' quote from an article entitled Leg Ironed,” which Mr. Holland had published. Miv Holland had then said that the Socialist" Party maintained its attitude of uncompromising'hostility to the Arbitration Court which, he said, really existed to say how much the workers should be legally robbed of and to see that they 'were penalised if -they objected to the~rbbbery. The Socialist Party proclaimed .'that'the workers should riot-be satisfied with ■ a portion ; they should demand "all the wealth from Nature’s sources. Mr. Holland had counselled the workers to fight with every'~ve’a~ pon that would serve ihe working class interests to wrest from the exploiters every concession that might be wrested, but over to keep their eye turned to-wards the gaol of social revolution. HiS article hiid closed with the remark “that, so organised, with no divisions of race or creed, color or sex, tho, workers might well laugh their exploiters to scorn, smash through the awards and penalties of their arbitration courts, tear down the superstructure of their legal- power to oppress, and swiftly plant the Red Flag, emblem alike of working class revolt and of humanity, free on the world’s citadel of industrialism.” “Give us something of our own stuff,” interjected a young man in the audience, who had previously interjected on a question of finance. The crowd cheered and others cried out, “He does not- like it.” ■ “I- am' going to give them something of-their own stuff, so that these associates ' with '- Mr. Holland _ will know something about him,” said-the Prime JlDhister, amidst a .chorus of hear hears and cheers. He said that, at Dunedin, Mr. Holland had expressed his dislike of comparisons between New Zealand and Australia, stating that Ndw Zealand should look after its own problems and Australia should look after Australian problems. /“I do not wonder that they do not like- comparisons,” Mr. Coates said, “but . they are going to get it all, the same and, as for Mr.Holiand shying that we should stick to New Zealand, let us have- a look and see how he has interfered in the affairs of people .outside of this country. Did Mr. Holland recall having acted as a delegate from New Zealand in 1921 to the conference in Australia, which had adopted the notroious ‘Red Rule’ resolution which had been the}* curse of Australia and New Zealand ever since?. That conference had agreed to admit Communists to its ranks and one of Mr. Holland’s associates on that- occasion was Mr. Jock Garden; the man who had suggested that, if seamen got a ‘scab’ on hoard ship, they should throw him overboard. Did Mr. Holland remember his active participation and sympathy towards the British seamen in their unofficial strike of 1925?” Mr. Coates said he hardly thought the memories of the people of New Zealand were so short as to. forget Mr. Holland’s attitude on that occasion. Again, did -An** Holland recall haying forwarded a* message to the British Labor Party, when they'formed a Council of Action a movement Mr. J. H. Thomas had disowned, as it was, in his opinion, definitely against the - constitution. Did Air. Holland also remember opposing the sending of British troops to Shanghai last year to protect British subjects? Mr. • Coates- further asked if the public would forget Mr. Holland’s attitude towards those w'ho were concerned in the intrigue to undermine the Administrator m Samoa. TT , Mr. Coates said that Mr. Holland had always associated himself with anything that savoured of revolution and, .'if anyone had any doubts as to whether the Labor Party had'chang-' ed its attitude, they had only to note the statement of Mr. J. A. Labor candidate for Auckland East, who,. on Tuesday night, said the Labor Party had made no change or heart. Mr. Holland leader of the party which his (Mr. Coates’) opponent, 'Mr. Barclay, associated himself. They might say that they" bad changed, but the Prime Minister asked: “Could a leopard change its spots?” There was no doubt that they had both feet on the soft pedal. The meeting at Paparoa concluded after passing a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Coates and the Reform Party, midst a scene of even greater enthusiasm than that with which it had started. h At the- close of the meeting Mr. Coates, accompanied by Mrs. Coates, proceeded to his home at Matakohe to pay a visit to his brother Rodney, who ls ill, his aged mother and other members of the family. After an all too short stay in the bosom of Ins family, Mr. Coates and party proceeded to Dargaville, where, he was met by an audience which packed the largest theatre in the town to the doors. He- had an even greater reception here than at Paparoa and, on entering the hall, Mr. Coates was greeted by. 'the large audience rising eh masse and smging “Auld Lang Syne ” % v After the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Jones) had extended a brief welcome to, Mr. Coates and Mrs. Coates, a little uirl presented Mrs; Coates with a Bouquet. Mr. Coates, then proceeded With an- address which was mainly 6» the lines of his afternoon With the addition of a Mew matters of local interest and district interest, add areply to statements made by his opponent for the Kaipara. seat - At the close of this meeting, Hie following motion, proposed by Mr. J. 0. Stubbs,'a co-director df the Dairy CoJbn which Mr. J. G. Barclay, Mr. Coates’ opponent is a member. wa> tarried unanimously amid a scene of greht; enthusiasm:-rv • - -‘.‘That,'' in acknowledging the great work done by the Rt. Hon. Coates as Prime Alimster, % this meeting expresses its/entire' c«sfifidence-in:him and those present 'pledge themselves to do their utmbfet to return . Mr. Coates, and ■:j> The/ valuable services he has rendered Kaipara during the many, years he has represented • the ' electorate in Parliament.” . -