DOMINION POLITICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18342, 30 May 1931, Page 7

DOMINION POLITICS.

MR COATES IN CHRISTCHURCH. THE GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, who arrived in Christchurch, addressed a meeting of supporters this evening. Discussing the political situation, Mir Coates criticised the United Party’s record, contending that it had broken all its election pledges. Mr Coates said he had not heard of any cablegrams being sent to the British Government by the New Zealand Government protesting against the dumping of Russian butter to compete with butter from New Zealand. The Reform Party was still prepared to assist the Government, said Mr Coates, but it was not going to sink its identity. It could servo the interests of the country better without being absorbed.

STATEMENT BY) MR COATES. DENIED BY THE PREMIER. TAKEN OVER REFORM DEFICIT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Interviewed to-day the Prime Minister denied the statement, made by Right Hon. J. G. Coates here yesterday that the Government had been warned by Reform in 1928 that dangerous days were ahead. Reform, he said, was in office in 1928, and judging from its actions nothing was further from its mind than thoughts of coming financial depression. The United Party had to take over the Reform deficit when it assumed office. Commenting oh the Labour Leader’s statement regarding forcing the Government to go to the country, Mr Forbes said this' was nothing new. Labour had consistently voted against the Government since the commencement of last session. THE UNITED PARTY. NO CHANGE IN POLICY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. “We are not worrying about when the election will -come. We are going on with our job,” said, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, Minister of Railways, when interviewed concerning the political situation. There would be no variation in the Government’s policy,, the Minister said, and It was 1 for Parliament to decide whether that policy should be carried out.