PREMIER ON TOUR.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10732, 1 November 1928, Page 6

PREMIER ON TOUR.

MR COATEg AT TE AROHA. COMMENDABLE SPEECH WITH / BAD' THROAT. AN /'ANSWER TO CROAKERS/* GOVERNMENT CARRIED OUT 9o .i. PER CENT OF PLEDGES. ‘u\ (Presn Association.) TE AKQHA, Oct. 31. About SvO. people listened to Mr Coates defend the. Reform administration, at, the Theatre Royal tonight. The Premier received a good hearing,, though he was subjected to frequent ■•interruptions. Mr Coates. opened bv referring to the .criticisms of the Government' by d tferent; parties. • Associated with the opponents of the , Government were people who complained of the country being ruined. Amongst those Jeremiahs and '.croakers were certain members of Parliament. Was it .possible,.he asked,- to legislate against falling prices abroad? He maintained, that the Government had carried out 95 per cent. of the pledges it had made to the ”eople in 1925.. The exports wero £12.5(X).00v greater than at this time last year. This increase represented all classes of- produce. . A voice:, And increased unemployment every year.—(Laughter.) Mr Coates "said unemployment was ahrecenomic effect, not a political one. The-Savings Bank deposits were also in a far healthier position. Some people contended that the Post Office Savings Bank should accept unlimited deposits and' lend money ciut. Private banks were a necessary, part of the public life, and any suggested monopoly of banking ’being controlled by the State was ridiculous.. A country could not be developed without money, and towards this development the banks had pmyodi a very large part. It was now proposed to lift the country from its slough of despondency by borrowing £60,000,(XX) I . . . A voice: Then you adm t it is in a slough of despondency.—(.Applause.) Dealing with unemployment, Mr Coates said before . the insurance scheme 6puld be inaugurated for invalidity or unemployment, it . was necessary to scan the various insurance scheme in vogue by friendly societies to see in, what way a Government scheme could dovetail into them. It was-much more ' important, however, to get hack to the source of unemployment; and remedy it than to start an insurance scheme. He admitted that some of his supporters in Parliament favored unemployment insurance, but he thought before they rushed into such a scheme they should first carefullv consider where it was going to land them. DOMINION’S CREDIT ON VERY HIGH PLANE.

The excellent results achieved by the recent industrial conference m creating a better understanding betw.een employees and employers were dealt with at length. "Now,” said Mr Coates, I will come to the financial pos.tion of the country.” , . A voice: Rotten. —(Laughter.) ■ . Mr, Coates said the Government s policy would have the effect or placing New Zealand’s credit on. a high er plane than for a very long time. He proceeded to that a large proportion of borrowed money was spent on hospitals, educational buildings and roads. Would anybody sugcest we..could do without these. A voice: We can do without Coates.—(Laughter.) . ' . Mr Coa.tes: You are going to have Coates for-another three years whether you -want him or.' not. (.Applause,) PROGRESSIVE LAND POLICY TO y' BE ENTERED ON. Dealing with the roading policy. Mr Coates said he was responsible for the introduction.of the Highways Act and the petrol tax, which had made it possible for motorists to trarel over 9000 miles of road economically and comfortably. . The Premier quoted figures challenging the statements that there was less production, fewer exports and less land under occupation and cultivation. As a matter of fact, there was an increase in all these things, as the irrefutable statistics would prove, and country would now reach the point when »• progressive land policy could be entered upon, which was not possible during the period of deflation. ‘ PART TIME FARMER AND / GROUP SETTLEMENT. The Government had in mind the part-time farmer, who lived in town and paid for a little p:ere of rural land, but who, in the aggregate, assisted verv materially in the total output. This man should be given e ver- encouragement. The Government had also considered the system of small holdings. A similar scheme in operation in different countries in Europe waa possible in New Zealand. Provision was also ade in the legislation of last session for group settlement.

I’UMICE AND CLAY COUNTRY TO BE OPENED UP. Fnrthei, it was the policy of the Government to open up large atrctelCs of '«ho pumice and Wav country between putarurit and laupiri. Even if the State did not get back all it spent, if land were made to produce, it would bring m its return. STRENUOUS OPPOSITION TO FREE TRADE- '. Free trade was one of the questions on which Reform has split with the Country party. Proceeding, Mr Ivoates said he did not know what the Country Party was, or what altogether it was after. He did know tnast however, that if free trade were adopted in New Zealand, we would bo unable to grant preference to British goods, and he was one who would give preference to Britisn citizens and British goods every time. (Lend applause.) . In conclusion, the Premier said the Government had been responsible for the sound management of the coni trv’s finances and for increased production, and above all, it had maintained fair equality between the various , sections of the community. He declared that the country bad confidence in the men on the Treasury benches' who could be trusted to do the right thing for the country. Mil view' of the great strain on his voice, which - was very hoarse, Mr Coates struggled through a two hours’ speech commendably. He was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. “ v -

HOUSING RKCKPTjrON AT NOA- • . ruawahia. FARMERS’ TAXATION POSITION . r .MADE CLEAR, V TE AROHA. Oct. 31." Mr .Coates received; a rousing - reception when he spoke at Ngaruawahia last, evening in 'aap.porfc.or t.Jie candidature of Mr ■ Walter-. - Sfeavill. farmer. ■ who the Reformers believe will'win hack to .Reform • the -seat that:'\das lost to- Labor .at the by elect’on.'“last- year. .. ’. A' ’ . 1 - ‘Answering a question m th the. taxation of farmet-s the Pnme Minister said that when a tanner paid land -tax he dkl not pay |noo^• tax.: conversely, - when he pai • oome - tax' he; did • not pav Jaml- tax His -information was that the State collected -• more from fanners - m the wav. of land, tax than it would collect if all the farmers .paid -on.lv um £e tax ' This policy had been conSntly : approved .- hv Parliament whfch ’recognised^-that as, wealth •andr prosperity of New Zealand deipended-’ ondpruoary,products, -every inducement should; be gnon ~%\ the /•x^vq*tm«ptyof. capitaV in farming ope-