POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 November 1925, Page 7

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

PRIME MINISTER’S TOUR

(BY TELEGKAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) EKETAHUNA, Oct. 31. ‘The Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates) visited the Masterton electorate to-day. He spoke briefly at Hamua and Newman, receiving votes ot thanks and confidence.' At 3.30 p.m. he addressed a packed meeting at Ekatahuna, and he received a most enthursiastio reception. Mr Coates referred to the Government’s general policy covering a number of years of development, which had been carefully planned, stressing that it would be fatal to call a halt now. Immigration, he said, had been successful. They had heard, a. lot. of the unfortunate need of charitable assistance, but only a half to 1 per cent, came under this class of case, and only 5 per cent, of the passage money had failed to be refunded.

Regarding fusion, he said it was curd-; oust that everyone but the right man had been blamed. In the Reform Party he, as Prime Minister, had the final say on this and all other questions. He was honestly prepared'to fuse, but the negotiations" failed on the question of the immediate reconstruction of Cabinet. He was dead against any savings of political skins or hides, and left 'it to the people to decide.. A vote of thanks and confidence in the Government was carried. PA HI ATT! A, Oct. 31. A wonderful welcome was accorded the Prime Minister at Pahiatua. Some' time before noon, at which hour he was announced to speak, the theatre was filled to overflowing. Many people travelled miles to hear Mr Coates, and it was considered to be the biggest political gathering held here. Mr Coates received a remarkable ovation, the huge audience rising and cheering for some moments. A, hearty vote of thanks to Mr Coated and confidence .in his Government was carried unanimously with considerable enthusiasm. MASTERTON, Nov. 1. Mr Coates continued his campaign at Masterton on Saturday evening, when he addressed a record gathering in the Opera House. Mr Coates was accorded a tremendous reception, both at the commencement at at the end of his address, the huge audience cheering continuously and according him musical honours. Mr Coates was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence in himself as leader. FINAL REFORM RALLY. WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. The Prime Minister left by the limited express last night for Auckland, where he is to take part in the final Reform rally. He hopes to he in Wellington on election day. ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES. PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT. DARCAVILL.E. Oct. 31. Mr Barnard (Labour), at his meeting on Thursday, challenged the chairman of Mr Coates’ committee, .in referring to. Mr Coates’ manifesto re motherhood endowment, to place the Government’s proposals before the people before November 4. Mr Coates’ chairman telegraphed as follows—“ Barnard has challenged me publicly to wire Mr. Coates, asking him to put forward his motherhood proposals before November 4. seeing he has alreadv turned down two schemes proposed by the Labour Party, and publish his reply in the North Auckland Times.”

Mr Coates’ .reply, sent from Pahiatua is as follows :

“In reply to your telegram re Barnard’s challenge," I have repeatedly, in the press ■and throughout the country, in the course of my public exposition of the Government’s policy, made it perfectly clear that- the Government intended to make provision out of the Consolidated Fund of the country for financial assistance to people on the basic wage who have families of two or more children, and this portion of the Government’s policy win be duly given effect to.” (Signed), i.J. G. Coates. I

EGMONT SEAT. MR. GREEN’S CANDIATURE MEETING AT KAPONGA. Mr. W, C. Green, the Nationalist candidate for the Egmont seat, continued his campaign on Saturday evening, when he. addressed a-well-attended meeting in the Kaponga Town Hall Mr. A. R. Bates, chairman of the Kaponga Town Board, presided. Speaking on the lines of his previously reported addresses, Mr. Green criticised the Reform administration. He> particularly emphasised the cost

of Royal commissions of inquiry and the establishment of the Dairy Control Board as evidences, .of injudicious expenditure, and urged the necessity for restricting borrowing and-keeping expenditure within reasonable limits. Asked at the conclusion .of. his address for a summary of the-remedies which the National Party -proposed, Mr. Green replied that the party advocated the establishment. ■ of-, an agricultural bank. and,. while-, admitting that a certain amount of ' borrowing was essential to the progress- of the country, the party would keep borrow, ing as" low as possible, and by arranging move efficient t supervision would stop the squandering of the country’s finances. ' , , - Question time had, however, to be restricted, as the hall was required for the picture entertainment at. 8 p.m., and after a comparatively few queries had been dealt with a vote of thanks to the speaker.was carried by acclamation, on the motion Of Messrs D. Fitzgerald, and L. Joyce; 'v;, A'n objector" wiio proposed, tlxat tne motion bo a vote of 'thanlvs only” informed by the. chairman, that such was the context 5 of the resolution passed. ■ LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S REPORTS. LEGISLATION QUOTED. (by telegraph —PRESS association ) - WELLINGTON, Oct. 31. Mr W Nash; National Secretary ot the New Zealand Labour Party; states: .The suggestion has been made that responsibility for the proposals contained in the Department, ot Labour report to reduce wages to provide for family allowances should be placed on the secretary of the Department (Mr. F W. Rowley) instead of the Minister of Labour (the Hon. Anderson). The following extracts from the Statute dealing with the Labour Department clearly prove that the responsibility is with the Minister. The Labour Department and Labour Day Act, 19GS, Section 12 (1). —The Minister shall in each year make, a Teport in writing to the {xovernor upon tbe operations or the Act and the working of the Department, together with such recommendations, - either general or special, as he may think necessary in order to promote the efficiency or extend, the usefulness of the Department.” \ ''

Factories Act. Minister to prepare annual report. Section 68*. “From local reports so furnished the Minister shall prepare an annual report for each year ending 31st day of March, and lay the same within one month after the close of such year before Parliament if.then sitting, "or if not then within one month after the commencement'of the then ensuing session.” , (“Minister” is interpreted! in both Acts as Minister of Labour),

The preceduce between the' Department and the Minister is as follows: — The Government Printing; Department sets up in type the above report (A). It is sent to the. Labour. Department. The Minister of Labour deletes from the draft report what . lie. disagrees with, inserts any ..further copy, and thh report, as approved by the Minister, is ordered to be printed for.' presentation to Parliament. The statement of the Labour Party has been proved up to the hilt. The Minister for Labour, one of the o’dest Ministers in the Reform Party’s Cabinet, is responsible for the Departmental report. This report contains proposals which the Labour Party exposed. The Act specifically provides for the reeommenadtion of the Minister, and in accord with the procedure following can delete whatever he disagreed with in the report. The Acts of Parliament relative to the matter, the .Ministerial statement and the additional evidence evinced from .the opening of the controversy, -have completely proved the Labor Party’s case that the proposals providing for-a wage cut were the proposals of the responsible Minister of the Reform Party.