SIR JOSEPH’S PROPHECY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16797, 9 November 1928, Page 7

SIR JOSEPH’S PROPHECY

WINTER UNEMPLOYMENT PRIME MINISTER’S COMMENT v JSpecia, to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. “He must have been ill,” “extravagant and outrageous,” were terms used by the Prime Minister in describing Sir Joseph Ward’s Christchurch prediction anent the unemployment situation next winter if the (iovernmont remains in powei.

Mr. Coates said that all sections of the community respected the right lion, gentleman, but to day Sir Joseph was tlie leader of a. party, and must take full lespunsibihty for iris utterances. Sir Joseph Ward had said that next winter, if the Government stayed in office, there would be between 30,000 and JO,OOO unemployed, (JJcui. hear and applause.) “There's a section of this huge audience,'' continued Mr. Coates, “’who want to see unemployment, and they seem to be happy about it. May I say that a statement of that kind from it responsible man seems to me to he extravagant and outrageous. Of all the dismal outlooks and expressions of the future that have been utttered in this country- it is possibly the most detrimental Ihat has i>ceu made. No man with 'any sense of responsibility wlm ought to know the position could possibly make an utterance of that kind, unless that right lion.' gentleman, is suffering from some illness. I attribute it fo the lion, gentleman’s health, be cause I consider it one of the most flagrant cases of exaggeration that- has. bedn uttered as long as I can remember.

A woman’s voice : You did not mind him voting with you in the House.