SLIP OF THE TONGUE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10736, 6 November 1928, Page 5

SLIP OF THE TONGUE

AIR COLEMAN MAKES MOUTHFUL OF ERROR BY MR, LYSNAR.

STRANGE NATIONAL DEBT COMPARISONS.

Recent criticism of the Labor Party and platform, by Air W. D. Lysnar was replied to at Atanutuke last evening by Air D. W. Coleman, Labor candidate lor the Gisborne seat, who also dealt at length with a slip of the tongue by the sitting member at his Muriw-ai meeting. “I. have noticed,” said Air Coleman, “that Air Lysnar, speaking at Munw-ai on Saturday night, stated that the National Debt of New Zealand was £240,090. —(Laughter.) That ridiculous statement just shows how much he knows of and what interest he takes in thie affairs of the country.” A voice: “Time he was put out.” “That statement was too much even for his chairman,” continued Air Coleman, “u'ho interjected and said it was riiillions. Why, £240.090 would not cover the Gisborne Borough dlebt. The New Zealand Public Debt is £170,000;(X)9. When Reform came into power it was £84,000,000, but thev have added another £86,000,000,‘ not including the war debt of £81,000,000. And, with all this debt, Air Lysnar has the audacity to say that he has looked into the matter and then puts it as £240.000.' “■between 1920- and 1927,” added Mr Coleman, “the British National Debt was reduced by £209,000,000; during the same period ours was increased bv £50,000,000. Sir Joseph Ward has' rightly criticised this tremendous increase and proposes , _ to remedy it by borrowing -another £70,• 000,00-0! Whilst other countries are reducing their, national debts, ours is increasing by leaps and bounds. Since'l92s. °it has/gone up bv£2s,ovOUUO. Last year Canada reduced her National Debt bv £21,000,000. “Mr Lysnar can be judged by Ins statement,” Air Coleman continued, “that our National Debt is £240,090 when it is actually £170,000,000 with, an additional war debt of £Bl ,OJO,000. Anyway, what has Mr I ysnar •done for‘the working people:”' A voice: “He has pmplnved a good few of them.” Air Coleman: “But what beneht have they gamed?” . A Voice: “He pays the best wages in the district.” , , Air Coleman: “Well, that s a poor look-out for the rest of the employers, if Mr Lysnar pays the best wages All he does is to go around saying there is plenty of work, but the farmers haven’t the money to pay the AmuTlaughter, a voice said: “He has the biggest wages sheet in the district.” . „ “That’s only what von think, replied Mr Coleman., “MrLysnar has never, done anything for the conn try. Fancy, him accusing the Labor Party! of lack of respect for God arid religion and talking about patriotism and of how Labor, lacks it 1 During the War he locked all his wool up so tile Government couldn’t get it, for' he wanted his full pound of flesh'. -L can tell you, too, that many of. the leaders of the Labor Party are prominent church men, who have a real respect for religion. Mr Lvsnar’s statements are to.o ridiculous.”