PACIFIC DESTINIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 190, 13 August 1925, Page 9

PACIFIC DESTINIES.

DOMINION AND DRAWN CLOSELY TOGETHER. PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The State luncheon tendered Admiral R. F. Coontz, commanding officer of the United States Fleet, and the officers of tho squadron visiting Wellington, was a highly successful function. Altogether there were 025 guests present and the proceedings were marked by lively enthusiasm. The Governor-General presided and besides the members of Cabinet and of both branches of the Legislature, there were representatives of city and country local bodies. The Governor-General proposed the loyal toast of "The King" and "The President of the United States," both of which were drunk with musical honours. The Prime Minister, Hon. J. G. Coates, proposed the toast "Our Guests." He was received with loud and prolonged applause and the singing , of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Mr. Coates first read a letter from the leader of the Opposition, Mr. T. M. Wilford, who is indisposed, stating that he joined with members of the Government in extending a hearty welcome to their kinsmen. Freedom and Democracy. "New- Zealand must ever be closely linked with the destinies of the Pacific Ocean. She is indeed fortunate in this respect in having associated with those two great friendly Powers, the United States and Japan. Never before in our history have we been drawn so closely to the United States as now. A comparatively short time ago both nations fought side by side for the basic ideals of democracy. America has ever been in the forefront of democratic nations and has striven to teach her people to realise the watchwords of liberty, freedom and equality. ''Apart, however, from close association in war, there are other and more permanent bonds which draw our two nations closer together. Paramount among these is the bond of a common language. What can be more potent than the tie of common speech? A common language is the very root of national sentiment. Of it is begotten international sentiment, strong and abiding." Closer Co-operation. Mr. Coates referred to the rise of the American nation and the part its Government had taken in the framing of the Versailles Treaty, and concluded: "Jt is for our national interests and economic advantage that there should be closer eo-operatioi between America and New Zealand. In saying that I recognise, of course, that a country's first duty is toward its own people, but our spheres of sympathy must be widened if our modern civilisation is to be effective and true progress is to be It augurs well for the future of the world if the spirit of co-operation between both English-speakinjr countries can be cultivated, and if the friendship on both sides of the Atlantic merges into a wider friendship among all the civilised countries of the world. Let us all fervently hope that the world may never again be enveloped in a welter" of blood "and tears such as happened in those never-to-be-forgotten years, 1914-1918. The Admiral's Reply. There was a renewed outburst of enthusiasm when Admiral Coontz rose, and he had to wait a moment or two for it to subside. He opened with a word of praise to Wellintrton's harbour, and the weather which had favoured the squadron's arrival. He declared the city reminded him of San Francisco by reason of its situation and the amount of land its people had found it necessary to reclaim alonpr its seafront. Very many people in America imagine*? New Zealand was. a long way down, somewhere near the South Pole. ''You hav l a wonderful country, ,, said Admiral ('oontz. When they read of the wealth per head of population and the health of Xew Zealand, they understood what a splendid country it was. Xew Zeajand was a country in which a man who wanted to work could make a success of life. The United States was going to grow yet, and here Xew Zealand, with its wonderful stock, would grow to untold millions. They must, however, be prepared to work. The Admiral said that when lie was governor i>f Guam ho found the natives disinclined to work, and an examination disclosed that hey were suffering from hookworm. Sometimes it seemed to him that other people must be afflicted with hookworm too. Perhaps if measures were taken to eradicate that trouble Other troubles might cease also. It was tlil 1 sturdy type of America's pioneers that laid the foundation of her prosperity. He admired the pioneers who tared forth and adventured into unknown lands and waters, and established new i-ountries. Xew Zealand and Australia had the same experience in this respect as America. Even ill his own day pioneers had gone out in slow-moving ships on long voyages, living on ''hard tack" and knowing often what real privation meant. Here he let fall an aside that produced loud laughter when he remarked with a twinkle in his eyes that "conditions are so changed in some parts of the world that "hard tack' has become a very scarce commodity."' Admiral Coontz said i!ie Prime Minister had spoken highly of the United States. Well, he felt proud of the United States' motto, which was: "A square deal for everyone." This had been her Him in freeing Cuba from local tyrannies, and in Nicaragua. She hoped also to secure better conditions for Havti ill the near future. America only desired to see all the nations of the world dwelling together in peace and unity. Xew Zealand already had overwhelmed his men with hospitality, and all would take away wonderful memories of their sojourn here, which would be told over and over again when they got home. He thanked Xew Zealanders for the welcome extended, and the entertainment provided which exceeded their livlk'St anticipations. l Proceedings closed with the British am American National Anthems.