REFORM PARTY’S POLICY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20743, 14 June 1929, Page 10

REFORM PARTY’S POLICY.

SOUND IN PRINCIPLE. EFFECTIVE IN PRACTICE. (Per United Press Association.) , INVERCARGILL, June 13. At a luncheon tendered by his supporters to-day the Leader of the Opposition (Mr J. G. Coates) said that when the Reform Party relinquished the reins of office the credit of the country stood higher than ever before, showing that the policy followed by it had been sound in principle and had worked out in practice. In addition to producing healthy trading balances the late Government had been instrumental in reducing the consolidated accounts by £190.000, by which sum the taxation had been reduced. Tile Reform Government had never waved a flag or endeavoured to take credit that was not due, nor had it hesitated to give au opponent full credit for any good work. He hoped the present Government would be as fair in its treatment.

Mr Coates said it was not generally known in the Soutli Island that all negotiations towards the establishment of a regular shipping service between Victoria and the South Island had been carried out by himself, and all that was left for the present Government to do was to take up the specifications and finalise matters. . Referring to railway construction, Mr Coates said he hoped that before the Government proceeded with any project a _ full statement on the economic position would ho made available in order that the costs might he weighed against the advantages. He touched on the Taupo railway and stressed the fact that. a full investigation made before the work had been proceeded with had shown that the project had been fully justified. The Taupo railway could not be compared with the South island Main Trunk extension, as the former was purely a developmental line. In regard to the latter he had said that the°line should he completed, but a careful investigation was necessary before the work could be put in hand. “Wo have a hard job in front of us as the Opposition,” Mr Coates concluded, “ hut it will be full of interest. We shall give the Government reasonable time and opportunity, but there will be criticism if it is necessary, and we shall expect the Government to answer any questions wo may ask.”