UNFAIR TACTICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10740, 10 November 1928, Page 5

UNFAIR TACTICS.

‘WHISPERERS” AT WORK

MISERABLE ACCUSATION AGAINST PREMIER MR COATES’ TMEING RETORT (Press Association.) DANNEYIRKE, Nov. 9. Although he has known for many months that there has been a campaign of whispering islander against him, the Prime Minister has all along regarded the whispers as beneath notice, but he was compelled to. take notice of the campaign at Dannevirke to-night. Mr Coates was dealing with Government expenditure and was asking the audience to nominate one item which could be reduced. “Reduce the Prime Minister’s salary”, a wag suggested. _ “He gets £I7OO a year and there is not much of it left.” The Prime Minister replied by laughing. A voice: “You’ll have to ‘cut the champagne. . '■< The Prime Minister ; . Vrong again. If anyone is depending on me to provide his profits . from champagne he will go into bankruptcy. And, for that matter”, the Prime Minister added in a more serious voice, “so would any wine and spirit merchant. I don’t suppose there is any more abstemious man in New Zealand than I am.” The remark was greeted by doubtful “Ohs” at the hack of the hall and the reflection thus cast on his word had the Prime Minister’s back up in. a flash* “Oh, I know the whispering. campaign that is going on”, he said. A voice: “Don’t take any notice of it.”

The Prime Minister: “I don’t suggest where it came from, but I know where it was started. It is an old form of attack, hut I think I know the people of New Zealand well enough to realise that they appreciate why- iE is- made-. (Applause),; When "some people - can’t attack you politically; th'ey try some underhand trick.-No man could do my job if lie was not fit and he can’t keep fit unless he is very abstemious. I suppose I work harder than any man in this country. I never let up while there is a job to be done.” “Three cheers for the Prime Minister”, called a voice from the hall, and the Tiearty manner in which they were given showed* what. the audience thought of the unfair tactics.