REFORM GOVERNMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 June 1928, Page 5

REFORM GOVERNMENT

WHAT IT HAS ACHIEVED. REVIEW OF ITS POLICY. ADDRESS BY MR. COATES. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 14. The Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, to-night addressing a crowded and enthusiastic -meeting at the Town .Hall in a speech which, he said, was not intended to be a policy speech in the full sense of the term. Rdferring to the 1925 election, he said the stewardship entrusted la him by the people had not been misplaced. The Government had been very largely translated into actuality and the ship of State had been brought through troublous seas on an even keel. -“In my view,” he said, “the basic and fundamental principles 'of good government (and they are the principles of the present Government) are the maintenance of law and order; the maintenance of justice and liberty; the preservation of property; the sanctity of religious beliefs; provision for free education and opportunity for our citizens; and the promotion of the welfare of the whole of the community, and not any particular section of it. We claim these have directed and guided our aims and administration. ’ ’ 'The speaker enunciated some of the outstanding principles for which the Reform Party stood, such as free se'eular and compulsory education, free education from the primary schools to the' universities, with equal opportunity for all. Increased provision of assistance to the aged, the .widow and her children, had not boon overlooked. Provision had also been made for epidemic pensions, pension for the blind, miners’ pensions, and police (pensions for those permanently disabled in the execution of duty. The man or woman injured while carrying out their daily duties, had also received provision by the Government of the day, and increased benefits had been provided under the Workers’ Compensation Act.

“The soldier nas been looked after and the dependents of those who suffered physically and mentally in the clasli of arms have been provided for. South African War pensions and Maori War pensions have also been provided for these veterans. The parents of the large family have also been thought of. Reform of thet Civil Service and the cs. tnblishment of Commissioner control; the right of every man to own his own home and farm, namely, the freehold land policy; the progress and forward development of our country by closer settlement where adaptable, and a gradual but definite move to dividing land in order that the rural population shall he increased with the object, of (bringing info existence a nation of small, prosperous land-holders, are sought by the party,” .said iMr. Coates. GOVERNMENT’S ECONOMY. Dealing with finance, Air. Coates referred to the recent period of depression. He said the people were definitely and clearly advised of the position existing and the pitfalls that lay ahead. The people were fold the remedy Jay .in. united efforts, determination,. hard work, and increased production. At on'ce the Government recognised that curtailment in expenditure of our national finances became imperative and took steps accordingly (but without cutting the salaries of public servants) by reducing- general Government activities. Local government expenditure was checked by the introduction of the Local Government Loans' Board; Government borrowing from overseas was reduced annually fr'om £11,000,000 to £7,000,000, then to £6,000.000, and now to £5,000,000.

“The dead weight debt, in so far as the war loan debt 'concerns the country r s liability, has been steadily reduced. An earnest' effort has been made to bring about a reduction in the costs of production while at the same time enabling the volume to be increased. This has largely been helped by the hard work and the self-reliant spirit of our people. Ratepayers have also been helped by further extending the principle of ‘the user paying’ in regard to roads. Notwithstanding all the stress, the Finance Minister was able to announce a surplus of £LSO,-‘ 000 on last year’s %vorking. Taxation per head in Now Zealand for 1926-27 'was £l2 5s 6d, compared with £l4 5s for the Australian .States, of which £9' 13s 2d represented Commonwealth taxation and the balance from State Governments.”

The industries of the country had all been under very close examination, and where the Government were satisfied, assistance had been rendered. The main principle observed was that industries in New Zealand must be. asked to compete with the outside article, and that the total prohibition of imports would not be conteihplated. The timber industry and other industries received undoubted benefit by new tariffs. From 70 t'o 7'5 per cent, of New Zealand coal was used on the New Zealand railways, and New Zealand-grown timber was now almost exclusively used for State requirements. The policy underlying the Government throughout is to employ our own men in our own industries in order to absorb as many men and women as possible, especially during the period of economic depression. Thanks to the policy of the Government, within the next 15 or 20 years New Zealand’s forests will bo one of her great assets. ■SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.’

Dealing with primary industry, the industry up'on which the country really depends for its prosperity, Mr. Coates said he emphasised the reorganisation of scientific research by the co-opera-tion of scientific institutions existing in the country; by linking up the Agri. cultural Department with meat boards, dairy boards, dairy, companies, freezing companies, wheat growers and pastoralists’ organisations, by the co-oper-ating of the Lincoln College and the Massey College with the assistance of the Empire Marketing Board and the Science and Research Department, which will provide this year some £19.000 towards engaging specialists and finally allocating duties to each organisation with a selected man in charge. The Prime Minister dealt with the financial schemes inaugurated by the Government, to aid farmers, lie referred to the wonderful trade for the financial year ending March 31 'last. The exports were £.54,962,031, or ‘over £9,250,000 more than in the previous year, while the imports wore £44,419,3'57, or a decrease of over £3,750,000. In other words, our (balance improved bv £13,000,000. Classifying our export trade, £47,226,000 went to (British countries and to foreign, as against £40,137,000 and £0,045,000 respectively in the preceding year. “I

have no 'hesitation in saying that, the outlook for the country is bright.. The clouds arc dispersing'and there is no room for pessimism,” added the er.Dealing with the question of people leaving the land, iMr. Coates said production has gone up. LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT. In the matter of unemployment New Zealand, compared with other countries had fewer unemployed (proportionate to its population. If has been repeatedly Stated, he said, that the action of the Government in; paying T2s a' day to married men-and 9s -to single men employed on relief, works is, a,n : attack on the trade .union rates of wages and an insidious attempt to reduce wages in the country. Nothing of The kind. He gave the statement an unqualified denial. It is not proposed to remove the present restrictions until the general position of unemployment hds. considerably improyed. -• One of the outstanding events of the present year was the holding of the National' Industrial Conference; The Government can claim credit reasonably for having, during its term of office, maintained industrial peace in the community. The conference recently concluded will have done much irt clearing up misunderstandings and bringing about better relationships between capital and labour. “Wo have arranged,”, said the Prime Minister,., “a very.' substantial measure of preference for Empire goods through ouc Customs- tariff and in everv way are we out to promote the unity of the great British family. We subscribe to the ideals of the League of Nations and will do our utmost 'to co-bperatc with other- countries in the cause of peace. • ' “As you know, a general election is approaching. You . will tbe asked to choose as between stable government on the one hand and the socialistic labour forces in the community who 'are seeking to' -gain possession of the reins of government. If I may say so in no disrespectful manner, there is no room for third parties. Their only effect can be to strengthen the Labour forces, and their existence cannot be deemed "t'o t>c in »tlie ifoest interests of the country. I submit our. record has been a good and clean one, and that we can face the electors with a proud rec'ord of policy and performance. “I conclude by quoting words used bv me in 1925: ‘We stand for stability and safety of the State and the Empire, for the security of the individual, for toleration and equal opportunity for all, and for order and peace in the community.’ My exhortation to you and to the country is: ‘'Stick to the captain, officers and- men who have served you faithfully and brought the ship into the calmer waters of returning prosperity.’ ”'