GENERAL ELECTION.

Grey River Argus, 5 November 1928, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION.

Holland at Huntly. ANOTHER CROWDED MEETING. (Per Press Association). HAMILTON, November 4. Mr 11. E. Holland. Leader of the Opposition. addressed a crowded meeting at Huntly last night. Mr Holland was cheered on entering the meeting. The Leader of the Opposition gave special attention to the coal industry. Labour, he said, would use the Research Department with the aim to produce in New Zealand all of the coal that i; needed in the Dominion. Hr declared that ’he briquetting of coal should have .been established in New Zealand long ago. A motion of thanks and of confidence in Labour was carried unanimously by the meeting. Uniteds Condemned. BY REFORM MINISTER. NELSON. November 4. The Minister of Education. Mr Wright, gave a political address at Nelson. He said that nothing bu* a political miracle could put the United Party in power. All of their candidates, he said, except only seven (in •hiding Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Atmore) were new men. Therefore, they were at a big disadvantage. Mr Wright criticised Sir Joseph Ward’s borrowing policy. He said ■ lat he loan proposed by Sir Joseph 'A;ud could not be floated without a Flic Minister referred to New Zealand’s satisfactory position on the London money market as a proof of good government. He di nied the assertions that the Governinen* had worked out the lan] boom. He sai<l it hail merely carried out commitments of the National Government. The Reform Government had given considerable help' to farmers, ns, for instance, the fruit guarantee, assistance for honey producers and tobacco growers. He referred also to the new Research Department, workers’ housing rheme. pensions increases child welfare subsidies, school den’al and health services, and other matter.as an indication of what the Reform Government had achieved. United Candidate. MUCH VARIED VIEWS. FEILDING. November 4. Mr J. G. Cobbe, the United Party candidate for Orona, had an overflow meeting for his main political address, lie received an excellent hearing. Mr Cobbe strongly criticised the Reform Administration. He said: Mr Coates was hailed three years ago as a new Mo«es. Now he has been weighed in ’he balance and found wanting. The Government has failed to show A;iv sympathy for the farmers and freezing works. He hoped that if elected, he would be able to do something towards the protection of the farmers’ meat works from the trusts. Mr Cobbe criticised the expensive High Commissioner’s Office in Lon don, saying that the salaries of the clerks and messengers alone cost the country £25,000 a year. * Mr Cobbe favoured the proportional representation. system for Parliament, supported a two issue ballot paper, and the bare majority on the licensing issue-. He was opposed to extending the life of Parliament. Mr Cobbe explained th c United Parfp proposal for the raising of £7O 000000 over ten years, to lend to farmers and workers. lie was against the Agricultural Workers’ Union, but favoured Unions, with preference, for the industries.

The Big Two. MESSRS STERLING AND GOODFELLOW. MR COATES’S REPLY TO UNITEDS NEW PLYMOUTH. November 4. Mr Coates met an audience of about three thousand on Saturday night, and had a successful meeting. There was considerable heckling and counting out at times. This was confined to one section. At the conclusion n vote of confidence in his administration wacarried. Mr Coates replied to the statement made by the United candidate to the effect that Mr Goodfellow and Mr sterling were in so strong a position that they could dictate to the Government, and also that Mr Sterling’s salary has to be free of income tax. Mr Coates said tha* the Railways Manager certainly had to pay income tax. He detiied that the Government had made a seven years’ contract with Mr Sterling, at the end of which time he would receive full superannuation, as with other railway st rvan’s. Mr Sterling would have to complete forty years’ of service before he would receive the maximum superannuation. He hud now twenfy-six years’ service. He had about fourteen years to go. THE RADIO MONOPOLY. He replied also to the statement that he (Mr Coates), when Postmaster Geiieral had given Mr Goodfellow the sole rights of broadcasting in New Zealand. Mr Coates said that when the contract was signed, he was not Postmaster General, nor was he in NevZealand. Mr Coates said he would stake hie reputation tha‘ Mr Sterling would be h success. He would not earn only hi c salary of £3500, but ten thousand. Mr Coates .had - a eordSal reception at Waitara. To-day (Sunday) and tonight he is Spending on Mount Eg mont. He will vipit Inglewood an J Stratford to-morrow.