SUDDEN DEATH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 174, 25 July 1945, Page 6

SUDDEN DEATH

MR. RODNEY COATES "VERY FINE MAN INDEED" P A. WELLINGTON, this day. Mr. Rodney Coates, chairman of the Otamatea County Council and delegate to the Counties' Association Conference, died suddenly at his -hotel last night. At the opening of the conference to-day, the president, Mr. W. Morrison paid a tribute to Mr. Coates, who, he said, had been a delegate to the conference for many years. The conference recorded its appreciation of Mr. Coates' long and faithful service.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, also paid a tribute to Mr. Coates, whom he described as a very fine man indeed, a great citizen and a great spirit. Mr. Coates was a brother of the late Mr. J. G. Coates.

Born at Matakohe, Mr. Rodney Coates succeeded his brother as chairman of the Otamatea County Council 27 years ago. He had retained the position continuously ever since.

With the outbreak of war he was appointed chairman of the district manpower committee, and, with its change to the Armed Forces Appeal Board, he continued in this office. He was also chairman of the Otamatea Patriotic Committee and a member of the Northland Provincial Patriotic Council from its inception. He was a member of the North Auckland Power Board and a former member of the Kaipara Hospital Board. He was largely responsible for forming the North Auckland Farmers' Cooperative, Ltd.

Mr. Coates was also Government valuer for' land and stock, and an office-holder in the Intermediate RuraL«Credit Association. When his brother introduced the main highways system, Mr. Coates was one of the first local body leaders to realise the advantages of the new scheme for improving rural communications, and, as a member of the District Main Highways Council, he continued to further this work, attending the last meeting recently. In partnership with his brother, Mr. Ceates was a successful farmer, operating a large block at Matakohe. He fully appreciated the possibilities of North Auckland from a farming point of view, and did much to improve the breed of stock in that part of the province. Apart from his interest in local body affairs, he revealed his public-spiritedness in carrying on his farming activities while his brother participated in politics. For some years Mr. Coates had been in indifferent health. He was recently operated "on for lung trouble. He is survived by his wife and three children.

The funeral will take place at >lata' kohe on Friday.