CONTACT WITH FARMERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 303, 20 November 1935, Page 4

CONTACT WITH FARMERS.

GOA’EI.tNAIENT RETURN PREDICTED.

Drenching rain last night did not damp the political ardour of the settlers of AA’hakarongo, for there was a good attendance, which included some ladies, at a meeting addressed in the hall early in the evening by Hon. J. G. Cobbe. The chairman (Air A. Henaghan) in opening the meeting, said he wished, on behalf of the AATmkarongo people, to give Air Cobbe a welcome which befitted a Alinister of the Crown who had been their member in the last two Parliaments. Air Cobbe spoke at some length. He treated his audience to a complete review of the Government’s legislation explaining in detail how the farmer and the citzien had been protected by that legislation when heavy depression” in all things that mattered enveloped the in so many problems and difficulties not before experienced in its history. He had been pleased to notice in the close contact he had lately made with the farmers of this important centre of rural activity that the settlers, ever alive to what was going on in New Zealand, had no hesitancy in expressing enthusiasm for the way in which the Government, by the sanity and soundness of its administration, had helped to lift the Dominion back on to the road which led to a steady and, he hoped, permanent recovery of prosperity. Air Cobbe predicted a safe return of the National Government to continue its commonsense policy in administering the affairs of the country, which were too important to place in the hands -of a party inimical to the primary producers of the Dominion. Concluding his speech amid applause, All- Cobbe was voted the thanks of the meeting on the motion of Mr J. Ilomlcy, seconded by Air R. Lloyd. DIFFICULTIES SOLACED. Braving the elements, a good gathering of the electors of Ashliurst gave Air Cobbe a warm welcome at his meeting in the hall, hold subsequent to the one at AA T hakarongo. The meeting, which was attended also by several ladies, was presided over by Mr E. Kerrigan. In his speech, All* Cobbe dealt with matters of interest both to the man on the land and the man in the city, covering much ground in his explanation of the policy of the Government and what it had done to solve, in the interests of the people, what at one stage seemed to be almost insurmountable difficulties with which the Dominion was faced in the world depression. A very attentive hearing was accorded Mr Cobbe. At the conclusion of the address a hearty vote of thanks was carried by acclamation, on the motion of Air Johnson, seconded by All* AAL Le Quesne. To-night Air Cobbe speaks at Raumai.