PRIME MINISTER

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 292, 7 November 1928, Page 2

PRIME MINISTER

VISIT TO BULLS. OFFICIAL LUNCHEON.

(By Telegraph—Special to Standard.^

BULLS, Nov. 7. The Prime Minister, who is visiting the Manawatu district, arrived a Bulls at 12.30 o’clock to-day and received a cordial welcome. An official luncheon was held at an hotel, where Mr J. E. W alker, man of the Town Board, presided over about 35 guests. Mrs Coates, who accompanied Mr Coates, received a bouquet on stepping from the car. 'Among those present .a* the luncheon were Sir James Wilson, Hon. E. Newman, M.L.C., and. Mr J. Linklater. An anologv was made cn behalf of Mr H. !u McManaway, Independent of form candidate for the Manawatu, who was unable to be present. The chairman expressed at Mr Coates’s visit to Bulls, which ty accepted as an honour, to the township and conveyed a sincere welcome on behalf of the Reform supporters and district generally. ti The toast of the “Prime Minister, was proposed by Mr J. H. Perrett. In responding Mr Coates stated that the presence of two Reform candidates jeopardised the position in the Manawatu, but it was satisfactory to know that both supported the Government. It was unfortunate that too many men were offering their services w. competition with one another. He expressed confidence in the general election issue. The New Zealand Government, he stated, must be about right when! the United Party called them Socialists. Labour, said: “Too much Toryism,” and the rural and urban areas said that each other was favoured. The- slight opposition by tho noisy element relieved the election of dullness. -f

Mr Coates thanked Bulls for its hospitality; it was the first time this election tour he had encountered champagne. Subsequently Mr Coates addressed the crowd, standing on a table outside the Town' Hall, and spoke forcefully on the Government’s achievements. It was a “morai” which Government was going to be returned, he said. Cheers were given for Mr Coates and Mr Linklater. A section of the public gave cheers for Mr McManaway.