BUSY MINISTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22260, 7 November 1935, Page 15

BUSY MINISTER

MR. COATES' LONG HOURS MEETING KAIPARA ELECTORS DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES [BT TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER - ] PAPAROA, Wednesday During the present election campaign probably no man connected with politics has been busier than the Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates, who, after a week of campaigning, is now in the thick, of the fight for his own electorate, Kaipara Since his departure from Auckland last week Mr. Coates has addressed as many as five meetings a day. Driving his own car, with Mrs. Coates invariably with him, he has covered an average of 100 miles a day over rough country roads, meeting the northern settlers in village hall's and other queerly assorted places. He has stood in tho open air on the fringes of a forestry plantation addressing bronzed forestry workers and their women folk; he has spoken to farm hands in the sheariug sheds of a large sheep station; and at small meetings he has often sat back in an armchair explaining the country's difficulties in almost conversational style. However, tho campaigning is only one of Mr. Coates' activities. He still has the departmental responsibilities associated with his portfolios of Finance. Customs and Transport, and every mail from Wellington brings largo envelopes with numberless documents and letters requiring official consideration and approval. In every country town, too, telegrams descend on him in showers. Both Mr. Coates and his staff work from early, morning until late at night to ensure that there is no hold-up in departmental activities. As Mr. Coates is often on tho road before 10 o'clock in the mornings, and as questions invariably prolong his night meetings until after 11 o'clock, some idea can bo obtained of the immense volume of work that must be handled in a .short time. The manner in which Mr. Coates gets through his daily programmes is a tribute to his amazing energy and industry. PERSONAL RIGHTS AIMS OF DEMOCRATS MR. ALAN DONALD'S VIEWS Strong criticism of the widespread powers given the Executive Commission of Agriculture was expressed by Mr. Alan Donald, Democrat candidate for Waitemata, in an address to a well-attended meeting at the Navy League Hall, Devonport, last night. Mr. T. A. Hyde presided. The candidate was accorded a very attentive hearing, with only »a few isolated interjections. Mr. Donald said the powers of the commission, comprising three members, were practically unlimited, and it was distressing that the farming industry should be in the power of these men. The scheme was entirely wrong, and there was serious danger of the system spreading to other industries. "If we tolerate such a state of affairs, and send the present Government back to office, we will deserve all we get," Mr. Donald added. "The Democrat Party is pledged to securing the return of personal rights and liberties." Referring to a statement by Mr. Coates that- the cost of living had not increased, Mr. Donald said it had gone up alarmingly, two causes being the raising of the exchange rate and the imposition of the sales tax. It was not surprising that people in New Zealand felt there was something wrong. The Democrat Party would remove the sales tax immediately, an action which would result in the alleviation of the hardship suffered by many small shopkeepers through the imposition of the tax. Democrat Party had been told that it could not reduce taxation, but it had been proved in Great Britain that a decrease in taxation had resulted in a decrease also in unemployment. "We say, if need be, we will borrow £8,000,000 in the first year," said Mr. Donald, "and we are told we cannot borrow. We' are confident, however, that we can go to the country and say New Zealand is worth an £8.000,000 loan—and we will get it." The policy was bold and progressive, and far better than taxing wages and putting men on works that degraded the men and had no reproductive value whatsoever. Tt was significant that the Government had now realised the wisdom of borrowing money for a public works scheme, A vote of .thanks and confidence in the candidate was passed, there being only a few dissentients. MONETARY SYSTEM LABOUR PARTY'S AIMS Close attention was given by over 200 people to an address by Mr. H. G. R. Mason, Labour candidate for the Auckland Suburbs seat, in St. Andrew's Hall, New Lynn, last night. The Mayor of New Lynn, Mr. G. Lawson, presided. Mr. Mason spent considerable time in dealing with tho monetary system. Money, he said, was created by the banks, and the present Government believed the banks should have full control of tho monetary system. However, if the banks could create'money, then the State could create money. The money necessary for the relief of unemployment and an improvement in the standard of living could be furnished through a department of State, say, by converting tho Reserve Bank into such an Institution. The coiintry had the productive power, but the moans were wanted for the exchange of commodities. The monetary problem must be tackled, and the Labour Party was going to do it. The candidate answered many questions, a number of his answers being greeted with applause. At the conclusion a vote of thanks and confidence was carried without dissent.