TRIUMPHAL TOUR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 November 1928, Page 5

TRIUMPHAL TOUR

MR COATES IN' MANAWATU. HEARTY RECEPTIONS GIVEN. ' \ " ‘ ' j ' A BUSY DAY. (By Telegraph—Special to The Star.) •id LEV 1N,..N0v. .7. The Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, made a royal progress through the Manawatu to-day. Wanganui electors had two further opportunities of hearing Mr. Coates berore he left this morning, when lie laid the foundation stone of the new hostel for the boys of the ’Wanganui -Technical College, and later opened the* A. and P. Association’s show. “I have been a farmer for 40 years, and I know this Government has done more for the farmers, than- any other that I have had anything to do with,” Mr. Coates was informed by Mr. Donald Ross, president of the A. and P. Association, and the tribute was endorsed by a gathering of farmers. Mr. Coates quoted statistics . shoving how production had increased ini tlie past few years, in refutation- of suggestions by those whom he described as “Jeremiahs and croakers.,” who were going about saying that the country had gone to the dogs. Tlie main street of Bulls was decorated with ' bunting in honour of the Prime Minister’s visit. Mr. and Mrs. Coates and party Were entertained at luncheon by the local Reform executive. When his health was being proposed, Mr. Coates was assured that in spite of the split vote Manawatu would be sound and would return the official Reform candidate, Mr. J. Linklater. Regret was expressed by Mr.. Coates that there should be rivals • for the support of Reform voters in the electorate, and while it was pleasant to know that good men were ready to give their service to aid . the Government, there was always a danger that a third' candidate would slip in between the rivals. It did not seem to be fair that a man who'had' won'a seat and had probably fought- several elections should be asked to go to a selection ballot again. It .was tlfeT; duty of the candidate Who did. not' have the official nomination to consider' whether the interests of' the Government should not -come first) so that there would be a solid front and no chance of ii safe and sound majority being lessened. The same duty deceived on the electors. “That is rather funny,” 'said Mir.” Coates to the crowd; “nor. one had said ‘hear, hear’ when I- said that some people contended that the country was. going to the dogs, and I had a reply, all ready.” , ' A voice: “But we are’all with, you.” (Applause.) '. ' FOXTON’S WELCOME. Cheers rang for Mr. and Mrs, 'Coates as they made ready, to move 'on”to; Foxton, where a pleasant surprise awaited them. All the children of the ; school were drawn up along the side' of the road, across which four little girls held blue and white ribbons, milking a barrier impossible to pass. Mr. Coates had a lot of ground to cover ■- to-day, but he stopped ifor a ;; few minutes- to inspect the children and to give them ' a brief talk and then send them away to play, "on the coin- . niit-tee’s. acceptance of his suggestion ) that- the occasion of his first visit to tlie Foxton school should '.be marked ov letting them away for ’ the remainier of the afternoon. A loud-voiced and persistent' iriier,ector was promptly, given his- conge at an enthusiastic meeting at Foxton. j “No schools have been built' in the y -country,” the man kept-calling out; j ’j Mr. Coates patiently insisted - there bad been construction in rural districts,. aiid that, if necessary, the official figures would be furnished. .. ‘‘That: is not sb; I differ,” the man 4 shouted-. The Prime Minister : .“I am afraid you know nothing about schools; I ■ think you had ' one hi your - district,.' - quite recently. . Anyhow, what is your name?” The heckler: . “I’m not. voting for you.” • • ■■' "b’-'' 3 . The Prime Minister: “Thank goodness for that.” A voice: “This gentleman wants a two-up school.” (Laughter.) HUMANITARIAN LEGISLATION. “I think invalidity pensions will be about the first thing we shall tackle,” die Prime Minister said when dealing with the policy of the Government hi humanitarian legislation. We have already gone a long way in working out a scheme and seeing hqw we can work _ in with the friendly societies. “~r The' scheme , may cost about JG3{X),O()O ...for •1,8-60,000 people. A voice: “Too much.” ... . “It is not too much, 1 ’ the Prime Minister-rep-led in decisive tones. “It ,s not too much, because the present nosit-ion is unfair.' It isi wrong for a, man to think he would be better out .if the way ■because’his wife and children would then get a pension. I have * worked on this scheme for years and! I . bel eve that we have got- over the difficulty at last.” . . ■ . • A voice: “It sounds grand; but you ‘wait too long; they, will.be a'llfdeud,” The Prim© Minister: “I agree that ve must not wait-long,-but-don’t—for—-let that it- is this Government that has tackled it. Nobody else-did.- It is £ a matter of allocating the responsibility for carrying it out. “Go on and fear 20 years 'and see how you, Ike; it,” c-a ledi out an' interjector lately.. ,■ .-. The Prime Minister:' “Whatl Why I have had mare than. 20 years on the 'and. I j\m not a ‘dud’’. farmer either; Applause). I have had to go through the thick of it too-.” (Renewed applause).- '■i “I don't think Micro is any doubt as to what Government isr being returned next Wednesday.” Air . Coates oonclndad. The Prime Minister was accorded a vote, of thanks, appreciation, and scutived confidence and cheers were given for. Mi< and Airs’ Coates. _ : The Returned Soldiers’ Association later entertained Air Coates to tea. A reception on similar lines was given at Shannon, where Mr Coates vers. again accorded a' vote of thanks and confidence*.