AUDIENCE LAUGHS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19436, 23 October 1925, Page 11

AUDIENCE LAUGHS

NATIONALISTS’ RIDICULOUS PLATFORM MR COATES DISMEMBERS IT (Special to “Chronicle’’) KOKAKO, Oct. 21. Mr Coates took up the Nationalists’ platform during the Whangarei speech, and made it look rather ridiculous. The Nationalists, he slaid, declare for the exercise of the strictest economy in public expenditure. That was what was being done now. Another plank was the reduction of taxation on the necessaries of life, but so far as eatables wbre concerned there was no taxation in that direction. The Nationalists declared against aggregation. Well, the Government were quite alive to the problem, and could be trusted to see that it was satisfactorily tackled. Thon the Nationalists’ platform advocated the revaluation of deteriorated lands. The position was that over and over again the Minister of Lands had said that that would be done. The Nationalists advocated the homestead law. Already that was in operation in many parts of New Zealand, so why repeat it. They were going over the Government’s policy again and again. Now they said they would make better provision for school buildings. He thought they were not going to have any borrowing, and that they said the Government was extravagant. They asked for free dental treatment. That was there already. What was the use of beating a dead horse? They said that the State should supply books at cost price. That was what was being done now. (Laughter). “As a matter of fact,’’ said the Prime Minister, speaking at a subsequent meeting, “these people have not got a real programme. It is pitiable to hear some of them discussing development, and how it can be carried out without money. The people, of course, know development cannot.