PREMIER'S TOUR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 13 November 1928, Page 2

PREMIER'S TOUR

VIGOROUS LAND SETTLEMENT POLICY (By Telegraph — Press Association) MASTERTON, 12th November. Tho Municipal Hall was crowded by upwards of one thousand people when the Prime Minister spoke here on Saturday night. Mrs Coates accompanied Iter husband. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, presided. The meeting gave Mr Coates a great reception, cheering him when he arrived and at the end of tho proceedings. The applause frequently swelled to an ovation. A small, hostile section played a very minor part in (he proceedings, and most of the interjections of the evening came from one person. The Prime Minister spoke on the lines of recent speeclies with many aspects of his policy, the record of the Government, and the criticisms of its opponents. He contrasted the carefully considered development programme of (he Government with the vote-cat cuing 'proposals of its opponents, which at their" best would give a few years of boom conditions, followed by serious unemployment and other troubles. Ah' Coates thought that it would he possible to cut down (he cost of Territorial (raining, but on the other hand it- would be necessary to spend from £150,000 to £IBO.OOO per year on air defence. The Government hoped to be able shortly to increase the present family allowance. It was proposed in co-opWatioa with the hospital boards

to endeavour to improve the working conditions of the nurses. The Government intended to devote £1,000,000 per year in furtherance of a vigorous extension of land settlement, notably _ in giving opportunities to men of limited means to take up small holdings and in breaking in lands not at present available, for use. Even with the losses that had been incurred en soldier settlement, the Prime Minister declared that he was confident that in the end it would be a great success. He invited the electors to concentrate their support on the Government that had brought the country through the, bad times into renewed prosperity. ...... A motion expressing confidence in Mr Coates, in the Government, and in the Reform candidate for Masterton was carried by an overwhelming majority after a hostile amendment moved. by tha persistent interjector of the eveping bad been laughed at and failed to find a seconder. DISABLED SOLDIERS ! Before the public meeting Mr Coates | was entertained.at a dinner by a gathering of returned soldiers, over which the Mayor presided. The Prime Minister was welcomed as Chief Digger, and had a most enthusiastic reception from the returned men.' His health was proposed by Brigadier-General Hart, who commanded the New Zealanders at the capture of Le Quesnoy, and was drunk with musical honours. Mr Coates, in referring to the men suffering from disabilities winch were difficult to classify as being caused by the war, asked the people of this country to see to it that none of the boys who cracked up were allowed to suffer. The Government would see that these men, their wives and their families in deserving cases did not suffer. The same thing ought to apply to South African veterans. Mr Coates said that some home for these men would have to be found. So long as no raid was made on the Treasury he was perfectly certain that the country would stand behind them.