MINISTER’S SALLIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 303, 20 November 1935, Page 8

MINISTER’S SALLIES

SILENCING OPPOSITION. “MUST TAKE GRUEL.” “Take your little bit of gruel please. AVhy should I have to take all yours?” stated the Minister of Finance (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates), when in the course of his address at the State Theatre, to-day, he was effectively silencing interjections. The Minister was in good form for dealing with this type of verbal barrage, but unlike most of those of his critics, all his return shots went home. The brisk, good-humoured exchanges were enjoyed by the audience. Other samples were as follow: Mr Coates: I appreciate your splendid reception of what I have been talking about. A voice: AVhat have you been talking about? Mr Coates: I cannot be held responsible for your incapacity to absorb it. I have just been talking to the average citizen. (Laughter.) “A GOOD REPLY.” Mr Coates: AVhat wages and salaries are guaranteed in this country ? A voice: Yours. (Laughter, in which the Minister joined.) Mr Coates: That is a good reply. It is an indication that Gordon Coates is going back again. (Applause.) A CHEQUE HONOURED. A voice: AVhat about that “blank checiue” ? Mr Coates : It is one which if filled in to-dav would he honoured. AVHERE AVORKER SUFFERS. Mr Coates (referring to credit schemes and the issue of currency): You will have a sugar-bag full of notes and they will be worth nothing. The cruellest form of cutting wages is by depreciating currency, because it is the man on the lower rungs of the ladder who suffers. Take a good dose of Douglas-ism and you will regret it only once—all your life. EXCHANGE RATE TO REMAIN. Mr Coates: Do not let us get exchange on the brain. You need not worry. The exchange rate is not going to be altered for a long time to come.