REFORM POLICY DEFENDED

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1929, Page 11

REFORM POLICY DEFENDED

NEW ZEALAND’S HIGH CREDIT MR. COATES AT INVERCARGILL. HOPES OF BEING TREATED FAIRLY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, Last Night. At a luncheon "tendered by his supporters to-day, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader oi the Opposition, 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 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 consolidation accounts by £190,000, by which sum taxation had been reduced. The Reform Government had never waved a flag or endeavoured to take credit that was not due, nor had it hesitated to give its opponents full credit for any good work. He had hoped the present Government would bo as fair in its treatment. Mr. Coates said it was not generally known in the South 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 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 be made available in order that the costs might be weighed against the advantages. Mr. Coates stressed that full investigations made before the Taupo railway 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, as the former was a purely developmental line. In regard to the latter he had said that the line should be completed, but careful investigation was necessary before the work could be put in hand. “We have a hard job in front of us as the Opposition,” Mr. Coates concluded, “but it will be full of interest. We shall give the Government reasonable time ami opportunity, but there will be criticism if it is necessary, and we shall expect the Government to answer any questions we may ask.”