MR COATES ROUSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22999, 30 September 1936, Page 9

MR COATES ROUSED

FULL INQUIRY DEMANDED* RAISING OF THE EXCHANGE PARTY LEAKAGE SUGGESTED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. An assertion that he would welcome the setting up of a royal commission to investigate an allegation by Government members that friends and supporters of the National Party had been placed in a position to benefit by the raising of the exchange rate was made by Mr J. G. Coates (Opposition, Kaipara) during the second reading debate on the Land and Income Tax Bills in the House of Representatives to-day. The Government was in a hopeless position when it talked about reducing the exchange, Mr Coates said. To destroy the premium which the farmers enjoyed at present would be an obvious mistake.

Mr J. Thorn (Govt., Thames): The last Government made a mistake when it raised the exchange. Mr Coates: And the people made an even more obvious mistake when they returned the member for Thames. “The member for Marsden and other Government members have said that the last Government told its friends in advance of the raising of the exchange rate,” Mr Coates continued. “That. I submit, is a proper case for a_ commission of inquiry. A man who would give information in the way that has been suggested would be nothing but a traitor to his country. The member for Marsden and others have got to give proof of their statements. I would ask the Prime Minister to take particular notice of what has been said, and I would welcome the most complete and searching inquiry into these allegations. I can imagine no more serious charge being levelled against anybody in public life. “Some honourable gentlemen are apparently prepared to blacken' the characters of members.” Mr Coates said, “and it is only right that the Government should have the most complete inquiry. It is not right that men who have served for many years in Parliament should be subjected to criticism in language which is absolutely unwarranted. The word ‘ contemptible,’ I understand, is not allowed, and in that case I shall not use it.”