“MAGNIFICENT.”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10739, 9 November 1928, Page 5

“MAGNIFICENT.”

MR. COATES’ RECEPTION AT

WELLINGTON

UNITED LEADER’S HARMFUL PROPHECY.

“EXTRAVAGANT AND OUTRAGEOUS,” SAYS’ PREMIER

(Special To The Times;. WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. Magnificent is a word which concisely and aptly describes the speech delivered 'by the Prime Minister tonight and the reception accorded him by an -audience which was several tunes too large to be accommodated in the Town Ha 11,,. 'Mr. Coates, accompanied by Mrs. Coates and tho Reform candidates for the Wellington seats, entered tho hall to the accompaniment of round after round of cheers, , These,, with applause, . were repeated several times during the Evening, when his supporters gave additional impetus to the thrusts he dealt interjectorS', who, as at other meetings, were more noisy that numerous. Dll'. Coates used the occasion to refer to tire speech made by Sir Joseph Ward, Leader of the United Party, on his arrival cut Christchurch. Sir Joseph Ward, he said," was respected by all sections of the community. (Applause.) That went without saying. To-day he was leader of a party and he had to take full responsibility for his utterances. Speaking in Christchurch the other day. Sir J. Ward had declared that, if the Reform Government remained in office, thet'e would be between 30 and 10 thousand unemployed next winter. (Applause.) “Apparently a section or this audience want to see unemployment; they seem to be happy about it,” observed Dlr. Coates. (Laughter and applause.) “Sir Joseph Ward’s statement appears to be extravagant and outrageous. (Loud applause.) Of all tho dismal expressions as to the future, this was possibly the most detrimental ever made. No man with any sense of responsibility could make such a statement unless ( he was suffering from some illness.” A voice: “You are quite right-” “I attribute Sir J. Ward’s utterance to the state of his health,” Mr. Coates declared. “I consider it to be. one of the most flagrant cases of extravagant speech used by any public man for as long as I can remember at any rate.” (Applause.), At the close of the "Speech the Prime Minister was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, the motion being carried on a show of hands and with cheers and applause over the counter demonstration of tlm opposition.