FRANKLIN BY-ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1925, Page 7

FRANKLIN BY-ELECTION.

POLLING DAY TO-MORROW. PREMIER JOINS IN CONTEST. CONFIDENCE OF RECORD AUDIENCE By Telegraph—Preus Association. Pukekohe, Last Night. The final stage of the campaign in connection with the Franklin byelection has been reached, and the polling takes place on Wednesday. To-night the Prime Minister (Hdn. J. G. Coates) addressed a record audience, estimated at 1000, at the Pukekohe Theatre in the Reform interest. He said his policy was to carry on the work left by tlie late Mr. W. F. Massey, who, he endeavoured to show, had left the country in a sound position. Mr. Coates then reviewed the finances of the Dominion. The Premier said the Government had completely re-oirganbsed the railways, setting up a board of control, decentralising administration, etc. After two years’ hard work the revised tariff was now ready for submission to chambers of commerce, etc., who would discuss it with the Railways Board before its final adoption. A special report was being obtained on the railway facilities at the four main centres. The workshops at Auckland, Addington and Hillside were obsolete and would be renewed. Similarly, the post office and other services had been put on a commercial basis, the aim-being to provide the best service possible. New Zealand was the only country able to adopt penny postage since the war. 'The Government favoured the freehold tenure for New Zealand. No son of the soil would be worth his salt unless he knew that the little piece of land he was working would be his own some day. The Reform Government stood for business principles, economy and good service At the close an enthusiastic vote of confidence in the Reform Party and the leader and confidence in Mr. McLennan (the Reform candidate) was carried.