ON THE HUSTINGS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 October 1925, Page 5

ON THE HUSTINGS

PRIME MINISTER’S SUCCESS.

ENTHUSIASM AT WELLINGGTON. BY BID AUDIENCE.„ „T.Z r '~ FROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. AVELLINGTON, Oct. 16. w AVellington people' showed intense' ii£ terest in the first • public appearance of the new Prime Minister id the city. The Town Hall was packed last night, and ticket-holders filled every seat half an hour • before *- the ‘ meeting opened, and it was necessary to hold an overflow gathering. On the appearance of Air Coates thei audience, which had been heartily enA joying community songs, spontaneously broke into “He’s a jolly good fellow.”' Air Norwood (Mayor), w r ho presided oyer the gathering, congratulated Weilingtou people that never before had they shown such an interest in the Government of their country. The Prime Minister’s speech was preceded by brief addresses from localReform candidates and Sir Francis) Bell, who declared that it was one of the tragedies of his life that he. was too old to continue long in association; with Air Coates in the AHnistry, hut he hoped that Air .Coates would) gather around him men' like himself—young, vigorous and upright—as he knew Air Coates to be. • • ' :

There was a rousing reception, for the. Prime Alinister ’ when his ’ turn carnet Acknowledging these plaudits,, he..declared that with the greatest appreciation he could say that wherever he had been he had haiDa-fair hearing, which said a lot for-the .fair play of New Zealanders. ’ - .

Following the . line of-.previous addresses, the Prime, Minister' analysed the nature of : New Zealand’s' public debt to demonstrate that, excluding war expenses,, 90 per ~c.ent was paying its interest. He reminded the audience of the Government’s taxation reductions, stating-that l his‘'aim' Vas a free breakfast .table,On . the • - landquestion . the t ..Government... .definitely stood against aggregation; .It was suggested that' the*:' 'Government should compulsorily purchase land for settlement. but compulsion < was worth' noth- -ji ing. because it did“hot ensure that the land would -be acquired at a price which would guarantee-proper living 1 *fOr the new settlers. , Hundreds - of. ■ thousandsof acres were offered at .Government valuation, but would not be taken because the . values were not established on a basis which .would .enable the settlers to thrive on these areas when; subdivided. Successful settlement was only possible at the right urice’ and with the aid of cheap- capital. ' '

A vote of thanks to Mr Coates * and confidence in the; Government was *put to a show of hands, and carried - ap-> parently without dissent. There was then a further scene of enthusiasm - .

ADDRESS AT WELLINGTON. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ... WELLINGTON, Oct, 15. Tlie Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates) addressed a packed- meeting -in the- Town Hall to-night' amidst scenes of great enthusiasm. The large ■ hall was packed to the doors, hundreds being unable to gain admission. ■

Sir Francis Bell, who rose amidst, applause, said the occasion. - was *a" great one. It had -been said that'the Government was defeated at ..the last election, but, he asked, by whom? They had been elected to the House with a tremendous majority overeither of the other parties. The Reform Party was ,1a quiet . business party, carrying oh its work with." respect to the opinions of others:'"'He spoke highly of Air, Coates. They' had-demanded, that they sh,ould. be leef by a man courageous, upright and straightforward. They had had such a man, and all had been proud to follow him. (Applause.) ; That -wrs end-3 ed, but they had such another man to-day, and he doubted not that the country would carry him into power and return him at the head . of.. the Government. He had no doubt that Air Coates would justify .himself: - Air Coates, who was- received with prolonged cheering, gave •- a general outline of. the Government’s policy on somewhat similar lines to that given in previous - speeches ip/the* southern tour. He appealed with’confidence to the ielectors) for./their, /.support*,< He said his policy would be for, the pro?* gress of the Dominion.', The Government sought to eliminate - -all causes of class warfare -andr bitterness:, ~to. .pro-, mote the well-being of the whole, com inunity, to stfbh’gt'Keh: and develop our Imperial relationships/ 'and to' make New Zealand an- example of' what a healthy and industrious democracy can be. The programme of) the Government was-designed to achieve' these ends. —v

“We stand for- stability, 'the safety of the State, and; the ■ Empire,* for security of the individual, for toleration and equal opportunity for all, and for-j order and ueaca in the community,” (declared ■ {the '-Premier.-' “More- business in government and less ment in business, that'is our slogan.” Tumultuous ' applause’ greeted Air Coates at the conclusion, and votes of thanks and confidence in the Government and Mr Coates were carried amidst cheers. MR. CORRIGAN AT. KAIvARAMEA.

Air. J. R. Corrigan, ALP., Nationalist candidate for the Patea electorate, addressed a strong meeting at Kakdramea last- night, the audience including a number of ladies. At the close •• of the candidate’s speech several questions -.verc asked and answered, and, on th. 3 motion of Air: W." Wills a_ hearty vote of thanks was -passed to > Mr. Corrigan.

A WEILL-INFORMED CANDIDATE.'

The Wanganui Chronicle speaks well of ithe Government candidate for * Paitea: “It is seldom indeed, that a ' candidate undertaking his first political campaign makes as fine a showing Mr. H. G. Dickie, the Reform candi- - daite, is doing in the contest Tor. the Piatea seat. The report of his speech at AVestmere afforded moat refreshing reading—in striking contrast to the laboured and disconnected efforts "of • his opponent,. Air- Corrigan.-He is-cer-tainly by far'the best informed o-ftho candidates who have spoken in_ the neighbourhood of Wanganui. : * Mr.

Dickie lias far more behind him than the record of local service that us ordinarily regarded as an indication that an aspirant for Parliament ‘has served a. satisfactory apprenticeship. Not only lias he been through the hard school of experience on the land; he has war service to liis credit, and he has travelled and gathered knowledge in order -that he may be able to more efficiently perform tbe task to which he has set his hand. The problem of marketing the Dominion's dairy produce and meat has been studied by Mr, Dickie abroad as well as at home. He has made himself acquainted with all the details of the system under which migrants come from Great Britain to New Zealand, and he knows just what the difficulties are width confront the ant bo 1 itios who have to select the migrants. He has gathered information concerning State banking, and he has also armed himself with a knowledge of what other countries are doing in the way of agricultural banking. On every subject of national importance lie has informed hinnself.' ’