MR COATES MAKES ELECTION SPEECH

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18578, 28 September 1928, Page 9

MR COATES MAKES ELECTION SPEECH

REFORM VOTE SPLIT IN WELUNGTON EAST. (Special to the ** Star.”) WELLINGTON, September 28. The Prime Minister delivered an election address at Kilbirnie last night. Mr Coates said that he had not gone there to intimate the manifesto he proposed to issue to the countr” shortly. However, he made a statement of the Government’s attitude with regard to unemployment relief works and public works. He was optimistic with regard to the future of hvdro-electric schemes.

He insisted that only two parties could claim the support of the people. Any third part'* that might arise must declare either for Labour or the present Government.

With regard to the candidature of Mr Forsyth for Wellington East, Mr Coates said that his selection as official Reformer was done in a perfectly constitutional manner and according to the constitution of the party, and it was not within his power as leader of the party to have done otherwise than had been done. He hop~d that Mr Clark, who is opposing Mi Forsyth as an unofficial Reformer, would consider the position carefully with a view to avoiding a split in the vote.

Mr Coates held that Mr Forsyth was justified in having declined to go to the ballot with Mr Although there had been changes in the area of the constituency the sitting member had a right to contest the seat as the official candidate.